Race report – Corby 2903 Gotcha!
The morning of 25th May turned out to be different to any forecast published by the authorities in that it was wet wet wet. As the boats gathered off Pendennis for the start the mist was low on the headlands and St. Anthony lighthouse was sounding its baleful low moaning foghorn.
The wind was from the NE at about 12K true giving a 10 mile dead beat to Gull Rock. The Black Rock end of the line was favoured with Per Elise, Double Jeopardy and Gotcha! making good starts off around Porthmellin head.
Gotcha!, despite sailing 2 handed rounded Gull rock near the front of the pack and ahead of J92 Double Jeopardy and only 2 mins behind J105 Orijin. Per Elise was the favourite however at the turning point on handicap and was sailing well in the lumpy 12 knot conditions.
A 12 mile broad reach saw the J109 Jacoby and Ixthyos pull away, with Per Elise again doing well in the lightening winds. Gotcha! had its hands full sailing 2 handed and launched its running spinnaker a little later than most.
Mannacles bouy off the Lizard proved as difficult as ever with a large Easterly swell rolling in, the fleet bunched up as the winds eased and they tried to make headway against the tide. Double Jeopardy and Gotcha! seized the moment and sailed inside the Mannacle rocks into favourable tides, a move that payed off once the tide eased and the wind increased.
A long tight reach back to Falmouth entrance, with Double Jeopardy, Gotcha! and Per Elise leading the pack back into Falmouth. Once past the docks, there was a final spinnaker sprint all the way up to Flushing for the finish.
Two Handed Results:
1 Gotcha! GBR2903
2 Alert GBR5661T
3 Noon Hi 9630
IRC fully crewed results:
1st Per Elise GBR2769
5th Gotcha! GBR2903 (2 handed)
