The Tamar bridge race is the longest running event in the WQSC calendar, a simple handicapped race from the slip down around the central pillar of the bridge and back.This years event was different to previous years in several ways.- The race was run around low tide. This seems to work well as the slower boats weren’t further handicapped by stronger current on the way back.- The wind was good! SW/W 3-4 gusting 5 occasionally- Everyone got home with little or no drama.
The fleet consisted of six boats with an upriver start with a short upwind leg before heading south. Steve Kirby in the Laser showed his intent early with a good start but Aaron’s Catamaran was too fast for him to keep the lead to the windward buoy. Richard Platts in another Laser, Rob Kirby in a Pico, Rosie and Daisy Duncan in a Laser 2 and Edward Horler in another Pico gave chase.
For once the wind favoured Cats and Aaron quickly left everyone for dead, one tack almost all of the way. The wind was shifty, messy and gusty around the bridge ( as usual) but he made it around without losing too much ground to his Dad who was giving his abs a good workout clear of the rest of the fleet. Richard was going well but suffering from a lack of pies, he couldn’t get the speed he needed to get close to second place. But he did well to stop the Kirby family taking all of the podium spots.
The biggest drama medal goes to Rosie and Daisy who capsized and disconnected the boom of the Laser 2 just before the 5 minute gun but managed, with just a little help form the safety boat, to get back in order in time to make the start line in reasonable time.
Edward Horler needs a special mention for completing his first race. Well sailed Edward!
- Overall results
- Aaron Kirby 1st Dart 16
- Steve Kirby 2nd Laser
- Richard Platts 3rd laser.
- Rob Kirby 4th Pico
- Rosie and Daisy Duncan 5th Laser 2
- Edward Horler 6th Pico.
As ever a great event. Huge thanks to everyone who took part, especially to James and Julie Platts who manned the committee/safety boat and to Alan Duncan for timing the boats across the finish line.
We’ll have to muster a bigger field next year, the number of surnames on the trophy is very short! – Chris Coomber Dinghy Officer WQSC
PS –
Aaron entered his Dart 15 the Plymouth Regatta this weekend (15 – 16 June) and won the fast handicap series.
On Saturday 15 June, Brendan Seward set off in Aaron’s F18 on the trail of John Harris around the Eddystone and back. Although the F18 could not qualify as a competitor in the event, the F18 completed the course in some 2hrs 45mins. Guess this was slightly faster than most of the yachts doing the same. – Steve Kirby