Tough Conditions for the 2009 Cruiser Champs
IOMYC hosted the 2009 Cruiser Championship at Port St Mary over the weekend of the 15th and 16th August. The entry was depleted by strong to gale force winds on the Friday, preventing some from making the passage from Douglas. Thanks to those who tried!
The weekend weather made it too rough for the usual laid courses and committee boat starts, so a single coastal race around the club “fixed” marks was held each day. The SW breeze was fresh to strong, especially Sunday morning and reefed rigs were the norm.
The fleet was separated in to two classes - 5 faster boats and 3 slower (white-sail) boats were given slightly different courses allowing for less windward/leeward work in Class 2. This also meant that race times were about the two-hour mark for all boats, making sure competitors could get to the BBQ on time Saturday and congregate in the club bar Sunday lunchtime for the presentation. Many thanks to Commodore David Hill and all the other club members who put together the catering - much appreciated.
The sailing was a bit of procession though fast and occasionally in rough water, especially around the Scarlett Point and Kallow Point marks, where the tide always has something to say about matters. Nobody has yet figured out the best way to beat around the Carrick against the tide either.
Jason Corlett’s First 31.7 “Eauvation” dominated Class 1, winning both races by a handsome margin on handicap - didn’t even use the kite on the Sunday reaches - says he wouldn’t have gone any quicker anyway. The finishing order was the same both races and therefore overall. The Bolero “Tango”, sailed by Andy Dunn and crew were second, Pete Ashurst put his Ruffian 23 “Rapscallion” into third, the Dehler 36 “Shellan” helmed by Richard Baker came fourth and fifth place went to Mike Stanton’s Sigma 33 “Sorcery”.
In Class 2, only John Dowling sailed in both races, so won the trophy in his boat “Popard” - a Westerly Cirrus. Mike Sidebotham sailed the Jouet 760 “Foillan” on Saturday and sail-maker Mike Pollard, turned out in his “new” Westerly Fulmar on Sunday and surprised many of the fin-keelers on the short beat to Kallow Point from the start-line.
The IOMYC sincerely appreciates the attendance of the Douglas yachts, without which, the event would probably have been abandoned. This would have been a pity, because the sailing was good and the club is always happy to entertain visitors.
Report by Mick Kneale
Photo’s by Dave Kneale are available in the MSR Gallery
