COGS - Cornwall Offshore Group Series - Gull Rock Manacles
by Andrew Laming 31 May 2016 13:49 BST
29 May 2016
COGS Gull Rock Manacles © Andrew Laming
It was champagne sailing across flat water and under a clear blue sky for the big fleet that lined up for the start of the 3rd race of the Coastal Offshore Group Series COGS on Sunday.
Gull Rock, Manacles organised by Flushing Sailing Club, took the fleet of 21 yachts on a trip round a small rocky island on the west side of Penare Head followed by a return leg back past Falmouth to round the Manacles cardinal buoy that protects ships from rocks on the east side of the Lizard.
As yachts milled before the two starts for IRC and E Class at 10am on the line between Black Rock and Pendennis, once again, crews were called to think about light wind tactics in the fickle morning breeze.
The east bound flood gave a small boost in the right direction for the yachts as the fleet split between bashing the coast as closely as possible to pick up the first feeble puff of sea breezes, and those that headed out looking for stronger favourable tide.
As the fleet covered the 9 miles the wind gradually built and swung behind allowing spinnakers to come up, before backing by 30 degrees and filling in as the lead boats reached the rock. After a quick gybe kites came down and it was hard on the wind for the trip back in solid breeze.
The gamble was whether to tack inshore in search of less unfavourable tide and risk over-standing, or stand on and bet on a favourable lift. The boats that stood on generally did better with a gently veering wind across Falmouth Bay reducing the distance needed to tack in. From the turn at Manacles the wind home was up into the mid teens and it was a flat out blast, again close on the wind, back to the finish at Black Rock, with up to 20 knots in the gusts as yachts entered the Carrick Roads. IRC was won by Miss Whiplash from Royal Cornwall, and E class by Gorra Knack from St Mawes SC.
The race was hosted by Flushing Sailing Club and great choices of courses for the two fleets by race officer Kay in very challenging conditions meant both fleets finished together.
Prize-giving was held at Flushing Sailing Club with crews enjoying a beer thanks to sponsors Formation Marine and South West Play.
Overall Results
IRC
1st Miss Whiplash
2nd Afrita
3rd Scorpion
4th General Khaos
5th Juno
6th Daring
7th Inn Spirit
8th Sarabande
9th Jambo!
10th Elsa
11th Riot
E Fleet
1st Gorra Knack
2nd Carte Blanche
3rd Aura
4th Tai Mo Shan
5th Nightowler
6th Xenis
7th Ghost II
8th Noon Hi
9th Moonshadow
10th Poppy
Two handed
1st Aura
2nd Ghost II
3rd Noon Hi