After a week in Somerset, we were back on the A30 to Helford Passage. Making good time, we just caught the last Helford Ferry to take us out to "Susan J", removed her covers and soon took a call from Tim, already aboard"Picottee", persuading us to start a little later on the Tuesday than planned, despite the little wind forecast. To this we agreed, anticipating a favourable tide from 10:00, although we woke, as anticipated, to little wind!
In the event, we took the opportunity to effect a long overdue revision of "Susan J"'s gaff lacing, to spiral rather than hitched, to avoid bunching at the throat. At the same time I implemented a separate outhaul from the now surplus 8mm line. So, as a result, we cast off a little after 10:00, with "Picotteee" already wafting out of the narrows. Muting the engine, we anticipated a long motor sail but, by August Rock, thh wind filled in to a steady north westerly and we both fine reached all the way on port tack, finding plenty of room, once we could see it on the No 1 pontoon in the Pill, before 16:00!
A run ashore to the Royal Fowey YC for conviial beer, reintroducing ourselves to the lovely Karen for registration and a very enjoyable dinner in the Club was enjoyed by all, to the extent that we were grateful to only have to attend the race briefing at the Fowey Golants SC at 12:00. This enabled me to alter the lacing on the boom in a similar way. Following the briefing, armed with pasties and only slightly confused, we all repaired aboard and undressed for racing in the afternoon.
There was a gentle but steady wind to start with and after a rather fraught start, that rather put "Susan J" of her tacking, we all cleared the line and went around until serenaded with a horn. This indicated a return to the pontoon, re dressing overall and a cup of tea.
Several crews went back to the RFYC for supper and music in aid of the RNLI, while we dinghied to Golant on the tide to have a beer at the Fisherman's Arms in the hour of tide allowed, before returning aboard for a quiet supper serenaded by the excellent shanties from the RFYC!
Thursday was a "free day", so after Julie tried her paddle board, many of us sailed in company to Lantis Bay, just west of Udder's Rock, for a beach picnic, in, almost , idyllic conditions. Those who stayed aboard their anchored yachts, missed a large quantity of excellent pasta and rice salads, from the night before, but escaped a rather wet landing! Fortunately, Julie and Katie, crew on "Cynthia", helped most of us out through the surf as they had thought to swim!
Back for beer and excellent food at Golants SC, Karen had arranged an excellent talk by a young Henry Stenner, who had restored, "XXXX" a Mevagsissey Tosher from an engineering rather than sailing background. It was fascinating to see how his grasp of sailing a traditional gaffer increased and continues to do so, throughout the restoration, another vessel in need of a bowsprit!
Friday was the big day and the weather remained remarkable fair and warm with a hint of some breeze to come. An earlier briefing, limited the choice of pasties available but most of the boats includung "Picottee" with a new throttle cable but still single handed, paraded up and down the river in front of the town until about 13:00, when, with the exception of "Arrianna" , because Mike Forward had to return to the Tamar drekly, we gently sailed at the entrance to locate the start line for the "Trafalgar Cup" race, while consuming the alternative pasties.
The start was much less fraught with, possibly, more attention being paid to the main local and enduring additional Race Direction that the founder of Fowey Classics instituted, to the effect that "any protestor is automatically disqualified"! It looked as if three laps as far as Cannis Rock would be possible but, in the event, the breeze faltered and the course was shortened to one or two laps dependent on size.
"Susan J" managed to fill her water tanks and "Picottee"'s jerry can at Albert Quay but only on the second attempt. Being almost August, her bowsprit seemed less intimidating to the uninitiated holiday makers and their rubber dinghies,on the outer side of the pontoon,remained longer than usual!
Gelvynek
Once again we out board motored over in the dinghy (it sems to have survived it's ducking two weeks previously!), being, again, beaten by Jeremy rowing Gelvynek! We weaved through the beautiful racing Troys and assembled for the Prize Giving. It's not about winning at Fowey but " Susan J" was last in class following Roxane and a local Itchen Ferry," Wonder". "Picottee" had retired and "Obsession" an Ohlson won! The racing results will, no doubt, be published in due course but I believe that "Cynthia" was just beaten by "Ayesha", with "Sibyl of Camae" third in the beutiful big classics class.
In the meantime Martin and Jan of "Roxanne" were awarded the "'ansome Transom" for the best overall boat and "Our Boys"' dog, Poppy, for the best boat dog. "Mata Hari" another Helford classic, earned a well deserved award for the most improved boat and, of course, the Gribbin Cup to "Gelvyenek", the best under 18 foot! All this was followed by an amazing "Tapas" buffet, more beer and the prizes for the Troy's.
Later on the evening ended at the invitation of martin and Jan, aboard "Roxanne", with John and Graham of "Perriwinkle" enjoying rum and hopefully not Covid, on this occaision!
Those returning to the Tamar had left soon after dawn to catch the tide while "Mati Hari" "Susan J" and Picottee left around 10:00. Rather grey and drizzly with a building SW wind on the nose meant an 11 hour beat for "Susan J" picking up our mooring at 21:00 but at least knowing all the lights work! "Mati Hari" passed us soon after the Dodman and "Picottee" anchored off Porthscatho to wait for another tide in the morning.
Fowey Classics has for the second time for us, proved to be a wonderfully relaxed and pleasant event and Karen's organisation seems to be just right!
Our Boys Picottee
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