Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club Pallot Glass race
by Bill Harris 12 Jun 2009 11:24 BST
6 June 2009
Jubilee G wins the Pallot Glass race from Jersey to Granville © Bill Harris
The Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s Pallot Glass race from Jersey to Granville was held last Saturday, 6th June when a fleet of nine boats came to the line in St Aubin’s Bay for the midday start.
Conditions were light, the southeasterly breeze heralding a slow tactical beat to the distant Anvers buoy off the Normandy coast. With the race starting one hour before low water, the skippers’ first decision was whether to stand out southerly into the ebbing tide, in anticipation of gaining from the flood as the tide turned, or stay inshore as far as the Demie de Pas lighthouse before heading off southeastwards.
The inshore route appeared to be the paying choice with boats following that route pulling slowly away from the remainder of the fleet. Uniquely, Werner Toporis’ J-105, Jubilee G chose to sail well south, a seemingly doubtful tactic but one that was to pay off handsomely during the course of the race.
Conditions along the course changed little with the wind dying on occasion but generally maintaining its southeasterly flow. However, with a very slow race in prospect and the spectre of not making the marina in time, the bulk of the Jersey Handicap boats retired, some heading back to Jersey whilst others motored on to Granville.
All three of the fastest IRC boats were in close contention as they arrived at the Anvers buoy and headed for the Videcoq buoy, the penultimate mark before the YC de Granville finish line. Jubilee G’s tactics had paid off, giving her a four minute lead over Nigel Coxshall’s ILC30, Toybox to take line honours. Jubilee G also had the satisfaction of winning on corrected time with Toybox coming second and Julian Barber’s Elan 410, Chez Moi, third. A thrilling result for the MD of Pallot Glass and skipper of the winning boat!
It was left to Trevor Beaton’s Sadler 35, Ocean Star, to persevere on behalf of the Jersey Handicap class to finish over an hour later than Chez Moi but to put in a respectable corrected time despite having had the significant disadvantage of punching tide from the Videcoq to the finish.
The Commodore, Mrs Lynne Cook presented the place prizes in the RCIYC clubhouse on Tuesday 9th June when Pallot Glass confirmed that they will be sponsoring the race again in 2010.
Results
Class 1 – IRC cruiser/racer:
1 - Jubilee G - W Toporis - 7.11.02
2 - Toybox - N Coxshall - 7.25.23
3 - Chez Moi - J Barber - 7.43.49
Class 2 – Jersey Handicap cruiser/racer:
1 - Ocean Star - T Beaton - 7.53.55