Gotcha wins Helford River sailing series (From Falmouth Packet)

Gotcha wins Helford River sailing series

10:37am Wednesday 17th June 2009

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Before the final race of the Early Summer Series there were heavy showers threatening and not much wind, so most sailors put on waterproofs. An hour before the start, the winds swung to the North West and filled in nicely, the icing on the cake was the sun breaking through later in the race for a glorious evening sail.

Race Officer Phil Badger took advantage of the freshening West North West breeze to set different courses for PY and IRC yachts which sent all of the yachts out into Falmouth Bay to Eastern mark, 2 miles out of the river, before heading back in to central and then out around August Rock and around Rosemullion head, a good course for all.

In the PY race Valkyrie was first to finish, but with times adjusted for handicap Kudu was the winner by nearly two minutes, with Jackpot in third place. This result gave Terry Pascoe's Kudu a comfortable win in the series with maximum points, followed by Amanzimtoti in 2nd and Valkyrie 3rd, being piped to 2nd after counting back discards.

In the IRC section of the race there was another tussle for position at the start between Jacobi, Gotcha and Big Purple, all fighting for the pin end. This time Jacobi took the pin and Big Purple took the hit.

As the 23 boats headed to the line, Jacobi had right of way and forced up Big Purple, this left a gap for gotcha! And she took it, forcing Big Purple the wrong side of the start mark.

Up to the windward mark off Trebah beach it was Jacobi, Jetta, Gotcha. Spinnakers were hoisted for the long drag out to Eastern mark. Jacobi established a lead, and Jetta and Gotcha! crossed lines on the way out with Jetta proving a little faster than Gotcha downwind, turning about 100 metres ahead of her at the mark. Big Purple, now back in the race passed Orijin to round in fourth place.

On the long beat back up the river to Central, Jacobi extended her lead on the and Gotcha passed Jetta, tacking in front of her up the river to round the Central mark in second place.

On the next leg it was a tight spinnaker reach to August rock, Gotcha was still ahead of Jetta in 2nd but decided to drop her spinnaker early, leaving the door open for Jetta to sneak through into 2nd. Jacobi was well clear but having problems holding her spinnaker.

After rounding Rosemullion, the yachts reached back to the Dennis mark, after sailing with different sails and tactics both Jetta and Gotcha arrived at the mark together, with John Jane of Jetta calling for water at the mark.

There was a final windward leg to the finish off Trebah Beach, Jacobi had a comfortable lead and went on to win. Gotcha and Jetta had a tacking duel and Gotcha! again passed Jetta. Gotcha! needed to beat Jetta by 30 seconds on corrected time and shot away, only to come to a stop 50 yards short of the finish in no wind. Jetta hung on and finished only 22 seconds behind, to gain second place on handicap, Gotcha! 3rd.

After a close series and some fantastic racing Gotcha! wins the Early Summer Series, with Jetta second and Jacobi third.

Results - June 11 Early Summer Wednesday Series Race 6 of 6: 1, Jacobi (Tony Statham); 2, Jetta (John Jane); 3, Gotcha! (Stuart Sawyer).

Final Results Early Summer series: 1, Gotcha! (Stuart Sawyer); 2, Jetta (John Jane); 3, Jacobi (Tony Statham).

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