PIRATES ahoy! The youngest sailors got in one more set of two races during the club single race on Sunday that made their summer effort far more meaningful after so many lost to poor weather. 

These youth sailors are flying by now following the efforts of coaches and family to whom all thanks were expressed at the final prizegiving.  Matilda Ward and Huw Beverley-Jones were the runaway winners with nothing worse than a third place over eighteen races and mostly firsts.  Second Luke Hales and George Simpson with Jack Green and Will Reeves third. 

Worth a mention is that Luke’s Mirror is sail number 5846, this puts its origin in the sixties.  Coach Egan is keen to impress it’s all about the hand on the helm and not necessarily the age of the boat.

Race Officer Andy Ashton did extremely well to set a meaningful course for race one.  The south-westerly breeze at six to ten just about kept up for that one race. 

Oyster was moved in the hope of a fresher breeze with some north in it but that failed and in a near-flat calm our three safety RIBs did sterling work towing in those too lazy to paddle!  Perversely some breeze did come back but far too late and a warm bench on the club front saw copious teas drunk and cakes eaten.

In fairness to the weather the racing in the main fleets wasn’t too bad.  Six turbo fleet boats appeared but one retired leaving first place to the International 14 of Liam Stacpoole and Wayne Barnicoat.  The asymmetric fleet was again well represented with six RS200s.  Henry Hallam and Ashley Hill took first but close behind several new boats and new crews are threatening their mastery. 

George Lenney was given an easier sail in the medium fleet as Tim Laws was on committee boat duty.  George took first in his Aero5; but although on the water behind the Aero7 sailors his handicap won out.  There are quiet murmurings that this particular handicap along with the Laser radial is a touch too generous?

The Darts only mustered two boats, partly as the Race Officer sails a Dart.  Adrian Bolton and new crew Torrunn Brown won out, Guy Beckett sailing alone came in second.  The Lasers were as low on numbers as most of the medium speed boats.  Three started, Geoff Taylor first, Sydney Turner second and Rafa Oakes third.  The reminder of the Laser, Aero, Europe and Firefly fleets were conspicuous by their absence.

Sundays only from now rather sadly and as many of the club sailors also own or crew in Royal Cornwall, Flushing, Helford and St Mawes bigger boats they’ll make up lost time from shorter evenings with those clubs.