Restronguet Sailing Club as always welcomed us to the lovely view of Carrick roads in Falmouth estuary with a forecast of good wind. The bank holiday heat wave postponed for next year!
About half the fleet came down on Friday and settled into holiday cottages to make a week of it. The other half came down Saturday, proving once again a firefly is definitely faster than a caravan! Although a long way once your there it is always worth it!
Saturday had a gentle start around 1pm with a fickle force 3 giving some challenging shifts off the land mass by the club. Steve Greaves and Caroline Edwards were first round the windward mark with close competition behind from Stuart Hudson and Jane Bowden and Roger Morris and Jo. Snakes and ladders place swapping was to set the theme for the weekend. Big shifts and increasing tide made no lead stable. Steve and Caroline finally claimed victory. A second race in similar conditions gave the bullet to Dave Sincock and Betty Wheeler, with local knowledge the win was convincing and put them overnight leaders.
An evening of fine home cooked curry and beer in the clubhouse followed .
Sunday saw similar wind directions and the top 8 boats swapping place like no tomorrow. Hard work
on legs and tactical brains, 3 more different race leaders were found. Barney (aka Barry) Smith and Alanah Witherby took race 3.Will Mason and Anna Willard have clearly found the accelerator button in firefly 4000 and took race 4. A first since the writing of history book saw Guy and Francis in the same boat and not a crossed word. Clearly Fran was the secret weapon (I know you’re in denial Guy – but it was the only change you made!!) congratulations on race 5. Then off to the Lemon Arms. Alan welcomed us High speed death (HSD), Tinners and worryingly some rum of 74% proof. Obviously this led to some outstanding pool skill (Steve which ball do you hit when you can see soooo many! Tom the balls really should stay on the table)
Single handed championships for a select few on the water and great crowd support. Just a little of who can shout Dad the loudest or my dad’s faster than your dad!! Gusty conditions led to a few interesting moments. Patrick trying to round the windward mark several time, Dan looking the favourite until it shifted and Stuart quietly slipping into the lead!
Monday saw a few sore heads and a fresher Northerly breeze with bigger regular shifts. The tide taking people over the line mixed up the racing from the beginning. Anyone from 6 teams could claim victory….. Stuart Hudson and Amy Bowden decided it was time for a win and managed to hold off close competition. The final race saw Roger Morris and Jo take a massive half leg lead by the wing mark. However Restronguet conditions only just let them hang on, with Roger pulling out all the defensive moves to keep the fleet behind. Much maths and very close points lead to the overall results of:
South Western Champions Stuart Hudson and Amy Bowden in Fursty Ferret
First Lady helm Sophia Hulbert with Alan Hulbert.
National single handed champion- Stu Hudson!
ps few too many tinners so apologies for any mistakes!! photos to follow