AT last! The sun shone and the non-existent southerly wind of the day built to a steady 4-5 knots for the evening, writes Phil Sissons. Twenty four yachts set off for the Royal Cornwall YC start line representing the usual IRC and PY classes with new additions into the Sport Boat and White Sail classes.

After a short postponement to re-align the marks after a 35 degree wind shift, the IRC Class got away mostly cleanly. Double Jeopardy and Per Elisa, two boats new to the fleet, battled strongly to the windward mark and fought on the spinnaker run to the Vilt mark.

At the line Per Elisa was one second ahead of Double Jeopardy. In the next two places, Macavity and Pink Gin fought closely round the short course but at the line, Macavity crossed first. On handicap, however, Vlad the Impala shot forward to take the first place.

The four yachts in the PY class started well and used the short course to advantage, all coming home within two minutes of each other, the lead going to Popincoota and Moonlighter on the water.

The J class yachts progressed the course smartly with Just Wind leading Jiggy With It for most of the course to take the line.

In the new Sport Boat class, Sworded Fish led the fleet of two 1720s and two Laser SB3s. It was a very close race given the similarities of the yachts and this racing is clearly going to be exciting this season.

Silver harmony as the single yacht sailing in the new "White Sail" class had an excellent race, but commented later that it would be nice to see other yachts in the class.

With the race officer, Jan Allen, setting the finish at the harbour finish off the Docks, the lottery of the final run up the river was avoided as the wind dropped.

Results A Class: 1, Vlad the Impala, Martin Eddy; 2, Macavity, J S Murrell; 3, Per Elisa Paul Pullen and Robbie Tregear.

E Class: 1, Moonlighter, Paul Collins; 2, Popincoota, Jane Goddard and Alan Grose; 3, Sidewinder, Karl Hansen.

F Class: 1, Sworded Fish, Matt Trebilcock; 2, Cardinal Puff, Richard Beaman; 3, Sixteen Bells, Neil Cameron.

J Class: 1, Just Wind, Barney Peters; 2, Jiggy With It, Truro College; 3, Jitterbug John Hicks.

Q Class: 1, Silver Harmony, Lyulph Hesling.