JOG Channel Race to St Peter Port
by Peter Cover 29 Aug 2014 14:28 BST
23-25 August 2014
Guernsey over the late August bank holiday weekend is always a firm favourite for the JOG fleet and 41 boats in the four IRC classes came to the west-going Cowes start line on the Friday evening.
Class 6 were first away at 19:00 into the strong easterly tide and despite 2.5 knots against competitors were close to the line – a couple of boats made an excellent start a few seconds early and had to return.
Most boats tucked into the island shore on starboard, some exiting the Solent without a tack as darkness arrived while others in the larger classes starting later opted for the mainland side. 40 sets of nav lights were a great sight as the fleet cracked off on a close reach towards the Casquets.
Reaching kites were readied and some were deployed to varying effect but maintaining stability and the right course/speed was testing in the lumpy sea so it was white sails for most across the channel.
A pretty quick crossing to the Casquets and down to the Little Russel with much delight as a school of dolphins played chicken with competitors just before the finish at Castle Cornet where Hooligan VII was first to finish at 06:02.
Many thanks to the Guernsey Yacht Club for hosting the Saturday evening prize-giving where bottles were received by the top 3 boats in each class. Now there is just one offshore race remaining, to Cherbourg starting on Friday 26th Sept where final series results will be determined.
JOG St Peter Port Results:
Class 3
1st J Fever, J 120, Tim & Frances Lester
2nd Hooligan VII, Ker 40, Ed Broadway
3rd Talisman, Prima 38, Simon Harwood
Class 4
1st Fastrak X, Sunfast 3600, Nigel Colley
2nd Arcsine, Arcona 370, Kathy Claydon
3rd Bellino, Sunfast 3600, Rob Craigie
Class 5
1st Exocet, Sunfast 3200, Deb Fish
2nd With Alacrity, Sigma 38, Chris & Vanessa Choules
3rd Jeopardy 2, J 97, Nick Barlow
Class 6
1st Xara, Swan 38 SR, Jonathan & Anne Rolls
2nd Raffles, Elan 295, Peter Cover & Matt Stiles
3rd Moondog, Laser 28, Peter Pickett
Double-Handed
1st Exocet, Sunfast 3200, Deb Fish
2nd Fastrak X, Sunfast 3600, Nigel Colley
3rd With Alacrity, Sigma 38, Chris & Vanessa Choules