Comet Trio Nationals at North Devon Yacht Club

With high pressure firmly in charge of the weather to produce the hottest weekend so far this year, North Devon Yacht Club (Instow) hosted the National Championships of the Comet Trio class on 21, 22, 23rd May along with the Comet Versas (4) and Comets (12). Fortunately a gentle but workable sea breeze kicked in each day to facilitate 2 races a day on triangle/sausage courses, with a strong tidal influence for the 15 entries.

Race 1 - Very long line with a big starboard bias. White Lightning made a superb start at the pin end, but at the windward mark it was Exe-t-sea closely followed by Triple Exe, Go with the Flow and White Lightning. Thereafter Exe-t-sea pulled away in clear air followed by Go with the Flow. Dennis the Menace worked his way through to gain third place.

Race 2 - The sea breeze freshened and the tide was on the turn. Ariel was first to the windward mark followed by classic congestion at the leeward mark. The second beat saw Dennis the Menace take the lead, Ariel holding second position. Abigail Rose seeing the biased finish line, at the last moment gained third place just ahead of Red Baron and White Lightning was fifth.

Race 3 - Go with the Flow had a clean start at the pin end into clear air. Only challenged once on the second beat by Dennis the Menace but covering tacks kept the order the same. Red Baron secured third place.

Race 4 - The wind backed and went light. After a postponement to allow the course to be relaid, the committee boat end appeared to be favoured. The wind became a lottery and the lead changed many times. Celtic Blaze and Wild Thing had their moment of glory. With the failing sea breeze and increasing ebb, Dennis the Menace gained first place, followed by Triple Exe and Go with the Flow.

Race 5 - Dennis the Menace got away. The strong flood tide made rounding the windward mark a real challenge. This allowed Ariel to take second place, followed by Exe-t-sea. The course was shortened.

Race 6 - Triple Exe started at the committee boat end and was first around the windward mark (and held this to the finish) closely followed by Ariel, Exe-t-sea, Peebles and Go with the Flow. On the second beat Go with the Flow passed Peebles. On the last sausage Exe-t-sea passed Ariel to gain second. On the short beat from the leeward mark to the finish Go with the flow just snatched third from Ariel.

Thank you N.D.Y.C for being our host and allowing us to see the North Devon coast at its best.

Overall Results: