Weymouth
Sailing
Club

FRIDAY 11th August

After over 17 years absence from this Fun Regatta, I decided that with anew boat and the right crew it was time to venture there again.

We stocked up the boat ready to leave on Thursday evening, but the fog was so bad we decided best to wait until morning. Set off at 5.30am, thick fog again but decided it would get better once we had left the land behind. Really spooky going round the Bill, just about managed to make out the land. We never saw the lighthouse, bur could just see Pulpit Rock.

Lyme Bay was not too bad but we were beating all the way across, hoping to get as far as Plymouth before nightfall. As it turned out we were all pretty tired and decided to head for Dartmouth instead.

Moored up alongside the Ferry steps close to the Dartmouth Yacht Club. Here we were followed closely by the boat we were to race against during the week called Samsara from Portsmouth. They had departed from Portland shortly after us.

After a much needed shower in the yacht club we headed off to The Floating Bridge, well known for their fish cuisine.

SATURDAY 12th August

It all looked very tranquil in Dartmouth, so we headed off out early 05.30 to do battle with a F4-6 SW which turned out to be a bit more,

We got outside the harbour where the wind was fairly strong so we put a reef in but it was not long before we needed to have two reefs, and the sea was building so we knew we were in for a bumpy time around start point before being able to bear off a bit.

David and I took turns on the helm and were motor-sailing most of the way. F6 perhaps 7 SW and moderate swell all the way made for a lively passage. We took a few large waves, but were dressed for it, and helm was clipped on at all times.

Miles made drinks and handed out the snacks, and shared the crewing, not much to do tbh, apart from looking out for pot buoys etc. Linda was ill for the latter half.

Finally arrived in Fowey at 16.30 and tied up to Albert Dock for a few hours whilst we went off for showers and to get Race Instructions for the race to Flushing the next day, collect the famous Red Hat, which looked like something Donald Trump wears, (no longer sponsored by Mountgay Rum) and 4 Rum Tickets for Monday evening.

SUNDAY 13th August

Time to faff & fuel before Passage race to Flushing starting at noon.
F5 SW to start. Dropped to F3 later, calmest sailing we've had for quite a while! Boat going well up to Falmouth estuary entrance. No idea who we were racing against, hopefully find out later.

Finished at 17.30 just before the rain. Found a mooring buoy, close to Samsara, then taxi to the club in the rain. Food, beer, prizes, and a Tour of RO office for Miles and David. Nice new clubhouse, furniture by Pendennis apprentices, clubhouse design in keeping with nautical purpose of building. What used to be an old stone shack with a few facilities, has now been transformed into a very prosperous club.

We just happened to be sat on the same table as the winners, and after speaking with them, they advised us to change Class the rest of the week to SWNTC3 (no spinnaker) which I promptly did.

Flushing was great, nice food, free moorings, and free Water Taxi, all provided by the club. The taxi was the club rib manned by a volunteer, who did a great job despite running out of fuel on our trip, he had a spare can.

MONDAY 14th August

Rain cleared. Headed out to black rock for race start @ 10.30, which was quite a spectacle, with the Falmouth Work Boats to the left and the cruisers on the right. Fabulous race back to Fowey, broad reaching all the way in f4 dropping to F3.

Rain cleared. Headed out to black rock for race start @ 10.30, which was quite a spectacle. Fabulous race back to Fowey, broad reach all the way in f4 dropping to F3. Saw porpoises in St Austell bay.

Moored on Pontoon up the river, David offered to row us across to town. Went to King of Prussia for food, followed by fireworks, then Rum in the Royal Fowey Yacht Club. Got a tow back, from Samsara. Blagged a no. 3 pennant from them too, in anticipation of our change of Class to YTC3.

TUESDAY 15th August

Over to Albert Quay early, up to RFYC to check on class change, all OK to use from Tuesday onwards. A beautiful morning. Headed out for racing, arrived only just in time. Sunny, F3.

Race 1. Triangle, 2 laps. nearly took the wrong course at upwind mark, otherwise a steady performance. Altercation with Luna at the leeward mark on lap 2, decided to move off course and let him pass as he was pretty out of control with a spinnaker up. We were well rewarded later in the bar with drinks all round, he came 2nd in his class.

Race 2. Longer course around cans and deep into a bay, at the first mark Sand Dollar managed to attach himself to the mark and drag it about 20 feet, then back around Gribben Head (cannis rock cardinal) to finish just outside the estuary. Wind died in the bay making for a long slow race.
Respectable performance in light airs, we managed to get a 4th place for both races.

Pontoon shenanigans, very Congested. Rowed to the club for results, beer & showers. Luna gracefully bought us a round of drinks. Supper on board then back to town afterwards, to hunt out some nightlife. Gallants then lugger. Unusually quiet, think everyone was tired from the long trip. Fabulous weather.

WEDNESDAY 16th August

Over to Albert quay to get supplies before heading out. Took photos of the dinghy fleet on the way to our start which had been delayed to wait for wind.

The whole fleet sat around waiting for a decision, it was eventually called off at 1.30. Moored up. David went Paddleboarding up the river to explore, the rest of us went into town.

It was not long before the town was buzzing with people and the treat for the day was 150 classic cars coming through the town at 6pm. Here are just a few of them, which were followed up by some trikes and a Ferrari,,,

Then there was the Carnival at 7.30, various buskers dotted about waiting to join in,

Carnival was lead by the infamous Fowey Town Band, all instruments are hand made to suit the theme of the day, this year it was Canadian Mounties.

With Carnival over we all headed up to the Fowey Gallants, expecting to see the Fowey Boys Choir, we were not disappointed, with Joe doing his usual rendition of Nessun Dorma, and afterwards the local Cornish sea shanties,

THURSDAY 17th August

Forecast E4-6, the RO intended to run 3 races if conditions allowed. By now we knew which boats we were racing against, and it was going to be a difficult day.
Race 1, a Triangle, 2 laps. We had a very good start, crossing the start line second. We held that position for the whole race.
2nd Place

Race 2, Triangle, 2 laps.
Poor start but we stayed focussed and sailed well as the wind increased and sea state deteriorated. Lots of action on the water including an MOB and one boat let their spinnaker sheets go - and watched their spinny fly like a giant burgee was quite a sight. Some boats retired as conditions got worse. Saw porpoises in the bay
3rd Place

Race 3
Buoy 1 (upwind), S (deep in st Austell bay), G (cannis cardinal), H Finish line.
Only 3 boats started in our class, we all had difficult starts. We reduced the Genoa to about 2/3rds and left a full main.
Verry long (& fast!) downwind leg but goose winging was too risky because of swell. Long upwind back to the cardinal then beam reach home in rolling swell. Overpowered & spilling wind!
2nd place by only c. 40 sec (adjusted).

Rowed into town for the prize giving, went to the wrong sailing club!!! Bit of a shame.
Met up with the other crews - samsara, deja vu, speakeasy, in the Gallants, collected prizes.

Just happened to be in the King of Prussia for dinner and watched the pasty shenanigans. Arrival of the Pasty on the Fowey Town Band Committee Ship, which looked like it was on fire from the flares, also accompanied by the Polruan Ferry.

Then a local supposedly smashes the pastie with a mallet,

then when that doesn’t work he is off to get a chain saw, which he marches through the King of Prussia with. The Pasty is eventually cut up and shared among the local children. The Coastguards were hanging around in the square just in case they were needed.

Back to FGSC for some singing, then rowed back to the boat in benign conditions but the wind got up shortly after our return. Windy night (funnelling down the valley in which we were moored).

FRIDAY 18th August

Forecast: se 3-5 veering s 6-8. Last race today, a long distance one, The Tribute Cup. Course was basically 2 laps of St Austell bay with a huge downwind leg. Viz was poor at the start but we were able to follow the course on the iPad.

Good start. Did well up the beat, gooswinging the first downwind, and again on the second. Played Cat and Mouse with Morvoren around the whole course, neck & neck with Samsara on the final beat. Squeezed past Cannis out of St Austell bay then a close reach back to Fowey. We entered the river alongside Samsara and duelled with them in the light & flukey winds, tacking to the line. It must have been quite a spectacle for those ashore. We crossed the line 17 sec in front of them!

Moored, then late lunch. Wind was now getting quite strong, so put extra lines on the boat, just in case. Water taxi to the prize giving at Gallants in the pouring rain.

Dinner at Sam's, best food in Fowey. Left early as we were told that the Taxi may stop at 8.30 because of conditions. Storm Betty was crossing S Ireland. Heavy rain all evening. Too bumpy to sleep. Some boat crews had been sick in the night.
50 knot gust was recorded at Gull Rock (North Cornwall).

SATURDAY 19th August

David was off to try and get a row in the gig racing, and we had decided to stay until Sunday as Storm Betty was still hanging around.

Later went in search of the Fowey version of “The last night at the Proms”, which we apparently had been moved 3 times because of the weather. Great meal in Fowey Gallants, Roast Lamb,

SUNDAY 20th August

Left Fowey, mid morning, conditions were quite benign with some wind so we were able to sail for most of the way back home, except for Start Point where the wind suddenly dropped and speed went down to 2.1.

The dolphins were amazing, and stayed with us during the day for about 20 minutes and David was able to get some pretty good videos and photos,,,,

Then they joined us again for about an hour during the night. We arrived in Weymouth around 8am, having sailed right up to Portland Bill where the wind disappeared and it was back to motor-sailing.

Joan, Miles, David and Linda