THE first race in the Falmouth Boat Construction Series took place at Mylor Yacht Club on Friday evening in beautiful summer weather, writes Chris Davis.

A balmy ten knot breeze was blowing in from the south, a flat sea and perfect visibility. The wind unfortunately died away as the race progressed, so the conditions favoured the lighter and race prepared boats.

But twenty-eight boats competed and everyone agreed that it was a privilege to be out there.

In E fleet, the attention was on the three fastest boats, the GK33 General Khaos, manned by Ian and Jennie Jakeways, the Formula One Mavis Cruet, skippered by Dave Sincock, and the First Class Eight 4Play, captained by John Kulpa.

General Khaos got an excellent start and pulled away nicely, leading the other two at the halfway mark by about ninety seconds, but Mavis Cruet and 4 Play held in there and refused to let General Khaos increase her lead during the second round, although the dying breeze did not help her cause.

Their lead over 4Play at the finish line was reduced by half and this allowed 4Play and Mavis Cruet to take first and second places, respectively, on handicap.

U fleet split into three groups, the first three boats, two Twisters and one boat which toiled far behind.

The first three were very evenly matched and had a very close race throughout, but the Sadler 25 Tomaray, with Jon Myers onboard, which came second on the water, took first place by just six seconds on handicap. This forced John Cruise’s Mary Boon into second place with the First 285 Wizard of Clee, manned by Tony Hardman, coming third.

Ten boats competed in Q class. The first round saw the better breeze and the first five or six boats were quite close together, but the dying breeze and the increasing flood tide combined in the latter half of the race to show no mercy.

Colin Sadler’s Souchong came second on the water, about thirty seconds behind Rococo, skippered by Clive Hoyle, but Souchong had done enough to take first place on handicap.

Rococo took second place and the Westerly Merlin Chalonnaise, manned Steve Pendray and Fiona Pascoe, taking third.

The Buchanan 28 wooden sloop Scoter, captained by Mike Selwood, was back on the water after an extensive refit lasting about eighteen months. She took a well deserved fourth place.

The 100-year old gaffer Lady May, skippered by Victoria Whitworth, joined five rather more modern Shrimpers in H fleet and they all did well to complete one round of the course, in conditions which were far from ideal for these boats.

Michael Wilson’s Henrietta won the race by about thirty seconds, forcing fellow Shrimper Grace of St Just into second place. There was a close race between Pelican, with Richard Lewis at the helm, and Lady May for third place, but Pelican just squeezed in by 1.4 seconds on handicap.

RESULTS

E class: 1st 4Play - J Kulpa, 2nd Mavis Cruet - D Sincock, 3rd General Khaos - I and J Jakeways.

U class: 1st Tomaray - J Myers, 2nd Mary Boon - J Cruise, 3rd Wizard of Clee - T Hardman.

Q class: 1st Souchong - C Sadler, 2nd Rococo - C Hoyle, 3rd Chalonnaise - S Pendray and F Pascoe.

H class: 1st Henrietta - M Wilson, 2nd Grace of St Just - J Benge, 3rd Pelican - R Lewis.