Summer arrived on cue for Mylor Yacht Club's first Falmouth Boat Construction Pursuit Race on Sunday, but while the sunshine was most welcome the wind was extremely light and variable.

This race was scheduled on a fixed course to Helford with 20 boats, a record for a Mylor pursuit, self-starting at their allotted times.

The remains of the overnight northerly breeze enabled most to get away under spinnakers or cruising chutes with speeds barely able to stem the turning tide. By the time The Vilt was passed by the early starters the wind switched to a southerly sea breeze and spinnakers were hastily dropped and a slow beat to the first mark, Black Rock Cardinal buoy began.

Frenetic Caper picked up the new wind over by the Roseland shore and the lightweight Nibbler in mid channel also responded well. Chalonnaise and Mary Boon tacked in their direction in the hope of finding the same wind while others chanced their luck towards Falmouth. As St Mawes Castle came abeam it was clear that the best wind was just where the now significant flood tide was strongest but that was where Nibbler established the lead and became a good indicator of wind strength and direction for those not far behind.

The finishing boat, Lojic, had already been stationed near the lighthouse with instructions to record places as boats rounded Black Rock buoy so that results could be declared on that basis if necessary. However, a scan of other boats sailing, or trying to, across the Bay indicated that there was probably much less wind out there than in Carrick Roads and the decision was made to shorten the course and finish at Black Rock.

So with Lojic now displaying the "S" and blue flags Nibbler, helmed by Owen Taylor, crossed the finish line a few minutes before the target finish time used in calculating the starts.

The shortened course situation was broadcast to the fleet and Lojic was on station for an hour and a half before the last boat was timed in and her crew were able to join everyone on the nearby beach.

The next mark available for shortening would have been August Rock and had that been used it would surely have been Helford for tea, not lunch with far fewer than 19 finishers.

The remaining four races in the FBC pursuit series use courses around buoys in Carrick Roads. The wind must surely get better so let's hope the turnout for those is every bit as good!

Result: 1, Nibbler (Owen Taylor); 2, Mary Boon (John Cruise); 3, Frenetic Caper (Bernie Bagley); 4, Dhokos (Hu Stannard); 5, Gazelle (Andrew Nancarrow); 6, Chalonnaise (Stephen Pendray).