Annual Helford race and Bonita's return east.

Despite a disappointing forecast and grey skies, a steady easterly 3 to 4 filled in for the, earlier, 11:30 start for a three lap course.

Most of us reached north along the start line, achieved a brisk start, with straight forward tacking to Nare Point, a short reach and a generous run to Central.

"Theta" on the left and "Marie Ritchie"

"Bonita" and "Susan J" completed the course, the latter second over the line after a "Kyte" class but third on handicap, being beaten by "Theta" and "Mary Ritchie".

"Marie Ritchie" and "Annabelle"

"Bonita" and "Marie Ritchie"

After showers in our flat, we dinghied to Port Navas YC for the prize giving, where "Bonita" received a prize for being the oldest and farthest entrant. Following this, a splendid and very tasty meal was enjoyed by some 45 old gaffers.  This was the 5th OGA Helford Rally and was, as usual a very pleasant well organised event.

After another night aboard, Julie dropped David on "Bonita" and returned ashore with Deirdre, who had to return to Kent.

Helford OGA Rally

Another dampish morning.  "Calismarde " extricated herself from her inside berth and continues her circumnavigation back to the Swale. Meanwhile, "Susan J" executed another multipoint turn in the Haven before departing across Falmouth Bay with "Bonita" to the Helford.

Much dinghy ferrying brought about 15 gaffers and crews to Tremayne Quay for another, mercifully dry, bbq to prepare us for tomorrow's race.

As in previous years teh weather was kind for the BBQ, organised by Pauline and Don Garman.

Falmouth Parade of Sail

The Parade of Sail on Sunday morning was shortened but at least not cancelled as feared. Yawls adopted a jigger rib while "Susan J" lowered her mainsail and went the course under staysail and jib.

Here is "Tregatreath" a smaller Heard 23, who managed with a reefed main and staysail, with "Annabelle" a rare Cornish Crabber yawl behind.

We were joined for the parade by, Peter, Diana's brother, even older than the skipper and arguably "Susan J" 's oldest crew on our watch!

By now the sun had come out!


After the prize-giving at the Maritime Museum, in which both "Mat Ali", "Aberrare" and "Mischief" did well, we had a rest, checking fuel and water and replenishing the ice.

The evening was spent in the restaurant of the Chain Locker enjoying first class pub food and joining "Anchors Aweiegh" a shanty group from Mortehoe /Woolacombe in shanties.

Falmouth Classics and Shanties

"Susan J" definitely failed to cross the start, within the allotted 4 minutes, for the final race on Saturday - so no prizes.  However, the strong SW wind continued, the skies cleared and we had a cracking run up Carrick Roads to Turnaware Point and a challenging beat back to Falmouth Haven, with Sarah L on the helm and the skippers beginning to improve their sail handling!

Back alongside, after a brief visit to the Maritime Village stalls on Custom House Quay, we enjoyed the Classics bbq, at the RCYC  with "Bonita" and "Calismarde" crews, now including Deirdre, as well as Jenny, Goff's (aka Steve) wife.  Julie and David enjoyed some shanties at a distance and found an invite to Douarnenez 2020 (July 15-19) in their cockpit on their return, from Moel & Hélène!

The Parade of Sail on Sunday morning was anticipated with some trepidation, given the forecast!

Two Races one completed!

A damp grey start with plenty of wind. Diana and Sarah joined us at Falmouth Haven to join ship, while Peter Haa brief look aboard!

We reefed almost immediately, in the face of chaos of collisions and near capsizes ahead of us. Glad we did, with reports of a dismasting before our start.  Despite this the wind varied between 15 and 24 knots steady from WSW.

We still crossed the start and completed race one, with Sarah expertly helming and the rest of us slowly establishing a routine for sail trimming.

After a break to sort out the tangled Wyckham Martin furler and a quick lunch, we managed to miss our start slot by 1 minute.  Wesstill had a glorious sail around the course, despite David developing cramps in both arms due to dehydration!

Mainly "Bonita in improving weather.

After a busy day on the water here are Geoff and Geoff, of "Calismarde" dressed appropriately to face the Shanties ashore after sampling rum and tonic in the library!  It was nice to see Goff again after our foggy, North Sea crossing in company with "Bonita" in 2016.

Across Falmouth Bay

A rising south-westerly p,as so often, provided a smooth sea, which allowed "Susan J" to broad reach on alternate gybes straight up to Black Rock.

 We were accompanied by this lovely fishing yawl, PZ9, seen here between rain showers.

A damp arrival on the inside of the North arm of Falmouth Haven. Tricky,but accomplished with the able assistance of the shore team taking our lines and warping us alongside "Calismarde" a Buchanan bermudan sloop who has, arguably, sailed the furthest from Kent via Scotland and Wales en route back to the  Faversham.

 The view from "Susan J" 'cockpit!

Many large traditional craft on the outside! 

A damp afternoon was spent catching up with Steve on Heard 28, "Aeolus",  Martin on"Cariad"and Mike on"Mischief" both Crabber 26' s.  Brian and Estelle on "Annabelle", a Crabber Yawl.   Martin and Jan on "Roxanne" another Heard 28.   Nina, last seen on "Myvonne" in Lezardrieux, was here with "Tiger" her Folkboat.  "Storm Maiden " nearby at Ponsharden, her skipper will be on "Curlew" a 1910 Falmouth Workboat owned by the National Maritime Museum and kept in commission. and  "Mary Ritchie" a modern wood constructed Falmouth workboat, with Paulineaand Don, Classics vice chairman, who is running the event this year. 

Back aboard for Falmouth Classics!

Back aboard "Susan J" after a week of domesticity and paperwork in Somerset.  

A glorious evening on the Helford River, preparing for Falmouth Classics in the morning. Hopefully, won't be too wet!

After two Classics in perfect weather and very light winds, the forecast is for moderate southwesterlies on Friday and, possibly, stronger southerlies for Saturday.  So promises to be a rather different experience for "Susan J" on the water but at least it might become relatively dry on land, for the Sea Shanties.

Pleased to see that "Bonita" has made Falmouth last night, after two very long day Sails from Lymington, this week. We look forward  to meeting them later.