PURSUIT racing remains a little scary to me, writes Phil Sissons! Each yacht's handicap is used to calculate a start time based on a fixed time of sailing in the race.

The first of the two combined Flushing Sailing Club and Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Autumn Pursuits started in what turned out to be a stronger, more northerly breeze than the course anticipated. With the course set, the start times set, the race would be ended at 7.20 pm with all yachts in the same place! Well that is the plan!

On the water, the slower yachts arrived at the start line and after their given start time, set off down the river following the early stages of the course. For the next 40 minutes, the other competing yachts started and gave chase.

After the first boat starting at 5.45, the last two, both Multihulls, set off at 6.31. At this time the first competitors were out past St Just and well on their way for Castle mark. The larger boats with a better turn of speed were catching up the earlier starters and the two working boats were traveling remarkably fast.

The reach across to Pendennis mark brought the fleet into the main breeze and the leading yachts turned for Governor. Although a short beat to this mark, the majority of the fleet was now collected closely together. The scary bit is watching the faster yachts sail through the slower yachts while maintaining speed, safety and compliance with the rules.

At this point, who is winning is not very clear, but Peter Knight in Pink Gin, Con Mulcahy on Shenanigan and the two working boats, Mabel ahead of Victory, had both clearly moved ahead of their original positioning.

Alongside these boats were the much lighter weight yachts of Per Elisa (Paul Pullen), Blue (Tim and David Cunliffe) and Matthew Trebilcock in Sworded Fish, all usually sailing in the Sport boat class.

As the early yachts of the fleet rounded the penultimate mark of South Narrows at about 17.05, the two Firebird catamarans of Mike Webb (Crackerjack) and David Healy (Flying Circus) arrived on the same leg as the main fleet in spite of starting over 20 to 30 minutes later than the yachts they were catching.

The final stages of the course took in Trefusis mark under Trefusis point en route for the club finish. Several yachts sailed into the wind shadow at this mark and some effectively stopped allowing other yachts to catch them.

Once past this mark and into the harbour, the wind reappeared and the yachts continued to the line. In the final stages coming up the river to the finish line between the clubs, Peter Knight on Pink Gin consolidated his lead with Shenanigan and Crackerjack competing closely. At the line Shenanigan pipped Crackerjack and both were followed by Per Elisa and Flying Circus.

It was intriguing to see Mabel and Victory finish with the modern yachts Blue and Macavity separating them. The first yacht finished at about 7.10 and the last at 7.28, so straddling the target time.

A huge spectacle but still very scary!

Results for September 14 - race 1: 1, Pink Gin (Peter Knight); 2, Shenanigan II (Con Mulcahy); 3, Crackerjack (Mike Webb); 4, Per Elisa (Paul Pullen); 5, Flying Circus (David Healy); 6, Mabel Peter Collett).