24th Waller Harris 2-Handed Triangle Race at Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club
by Bill Harris 16 Jul 2019 22:20 BST
6-8 July 2019
Super Q and Solis Ortus - dep Granville - 2019 Waller Harris 2-Handed Triangle Race © Bill Harris
Although by no means a new phenomenon, there is little doubt that two-handed sailing is reaching new levels of popularity in global yacht racing circles. This comes as no surprise to the organisers of the Royal Channel Islands YC's Waller Harris Two Handed Triangle Race that has been a major highlight of Jersey's sailing programme since 1996. Whilst many participants have raced in the event since its birth in 1996, each year new entrants are discovering the delights of short-handed racing.
The 24th edition held over 6th to 8th July, saw a sixteen-strong fleet come to the line, in St Aubin's Bay, for the start of the first leg from Jersey to the busy Normandy port of Granville. Whilst brilliant weather ruled, on the Saturday, there was little breeze to speak of and the convoy quickly moved on to the northeast Minquiers buoy and, finally, to the Le Founet buoy, just five miles northwest of Granville and the finish line. Here, a light northerly breeze filled sufficiently to enable the committee boat to set a line and get the fleet away, accompanied by a boisterous pod of dolphins, at 7.25. To competitors' more or less suppressed consternation, a late course change caused a degree of scurrying about as boats transferred gear for an unanticipated slow port-hand run to the finish line.
Rhys Perkins and Bob De la Haye's Archambault 35, Abracadabra, took line honours and the race in an hour and a quarter in Class 1 (IRC). Nigel and Suzanne Coxshalls' Sunfast 3600, Solis Ortus, was second. Julian Barber and Helen Barker sailed the Farr 727, Super Q, to victory in Class 2 (IRC) arriving some fifteen minutes after Abracadabra whilst Steve Pearl and Ben Jones on the Sadler 34, Almecha were second. Mark Earley and Jerry Glynn took the honours in Class 3 (NHC) with the Najad 43, Aurigny Solace. With wining and dining much in mind, half of the fleet retired from the race to congregate in the La Régate restaurant, on the marina-side, joined eventually by the racing diehards. To the restaurant's lasting credit, the lateness of the hour did not diminish their warm welcome or the crews' enjoyment of the food and general ambiance.
Sunday morning saw the fleet on the YC de Granville line for a 9.30 start. Whilst the race committee were pondering moving the start due west to the Videcoq buoy, off Chausey, a light westerly breeze picked up and the fleet was sent on a long beat to St Cast-le-Guildo, just west of St Malo, via the Banchenou buoy. Tactics varied, somewhat, with some boats choosing to stay out whilst others, advantageously, stood on towards the coast. The westerly wind picked up, eventually building to a good force four accompanied by a fairly lively sea.
Solis Ortus took line honours at the Bourdinots buoy finish line off St Cast after four and half hours, just ahead of Abracadabra. Having, again, metamorphosed into a competitor from committee boat, Bob Milner's Grand Soleil 46.3, Grace, with race officer Bill Harris aboard, was third. Abracadabra chalked up her second victory on corrected time with Solis Ortus second. Super Q was first home in Class 2 to win on corrected time with Tom Vallois and George Brough sailing Moonlight Sonata, the smallest boat in the fleet, just a minute and a half behind on corrected time. Nick Bailhache's Moody 31, Fillipene, crewed by Richard Hunt was third. With time to spare, crews had time to relax and enjoy the charm of St Cast and, finally, the excellent marina-side Caravel restaurant.
Monday commenced slowly with boats coming to the line off the Bourdinots buoy for an 11.05 start. The fleet was soon away in a good force 2 to 3 northeasterly breeze for the haul up to the northwest Minquiers buoy and the long beat to take them to the Les Hinguettes buoy, just south of St Helier. The first leg northwards saw a consistent breeze for all but the second leg, leading to Les Hinguettes, proved fickle for those further back. The breeze held steady for the leading pack with a tacking duel between Alan Stevens' First 44.7, Zanzibar, crewed by Ian Moisan, and Solis Ortus whilst Abracadabra snapped at their heels. Grace, having overtaken the bulk of the fleet, was well in touch with the leaders having started some twenty minutes later. The breeze had picked up considerably for the final dash from the Hinguettes with the wind, backing northwards as boats entered the small roads as they headed for the finish line.
This race saw Abracadabra complete the hat trick, having won all three legs in Class 1. Solis Ortus took second on corrected time whilst Grace chalked up another third place. Newcomer to the event, Andrew and Angela Pearce's Sigma 362, Odin's Raven, had the distinction of taking line honours in Class 2 well ahead of Peter Crabb and Peter Williams' X95, Paper Tiger. However, it was a hat trick also, for Super Q, finishing well ahead of Paper Tiger on corrected time with Moonlight Sonata a very close third. Aurigny Solace was the sole finisher in Class 3, also concluding with a hat trick!
The 24th edition was brought to a close, in the RCIYC Clubhouse, the following Wednesday evening when Mrs Denise Waller, representing the sponsors, presented the many place prizes. The Waller Harris skipper and crew trophies will be presented at the RCIYC Annual Dinner and Prize-giving being held at the L'Horizon Hotel on 29th February.
Full results are available on rciyc.je/sailing
Class 1 - IRC
Leg 1 - Jersey - Granville
1 Abracadabra 1.15.46
2 Solis Ortus 1.31.37
3 Zanzibar 1.34.30
Leg 2 - Granville - St Cast
1 Abracadabra 4.34.30
2 Solis Ortus 4.42.05
3 Grace 4.45.30
Leg 3 - St Cast - Jersey
1 Abracadabra 7.19.04
2 Solis Ortus 7.26.53
3 Grace 7.28.22
Class 1 - Overall
1 Abracadabra - Rhys Perkins and Bob De la Haye (3)
2 Solis Ortus - Nigel and Suzanne Coxshall (6)
3 Zanzibar - Alan Stevens and Ian Moisan (11)
4 Grace - Bob Milner and Bill Harris (13)
5 Arctic Tern - Philip Burton and David De Carteret (14)
6 Anderica (Tri) - Andy Ravenscroft and Harris Collie (19)
Class 2 - IRC
Leg 1
1 Super Q 1.17.29
2 Almecha 1.21.32
3 Paper Tiger 1.27.12
Leg 2
1 Super Q 4.29.11
2 Moonlight Sonata 4.30.48
3 Fillipene 4.44.36
Leg 3
1 Super Q 7.15.31
2 Paper Tiger 7.33.04
3 Moonlight Sonata 7.34.00
Class 2 - Overall
1 Super Q -Julian Barber and Helen Barker (3)
2 Paper Tiger - Peter Crabb and Peter Williams (9)
3 Moonlight Sonata - Tom Vallois and George Brough (9)
4 Almecha - Steve Pearl and Ben Jones (15)
5 Fillipene - Nick Bailhache and Richard Hunt (16)
6 Odin's Raven - Andrew and Angela Pearce (19)
7 Ocean Star - Trevor Beaton and Jane Mourant (20)
Class 3 - NHC
Leg 1
1 Aurigny Solace 1.49.12
Leg 2
1 Aurigny Solace 5.12.35
2 Stella Maris 5.41.04
3 Murphy's Barque 5.51.37
Leg 3
1 Aurigny Solace 8.48.06
Class 3 - Overall
1 Aurigny Solace - Mark Earley and Jerry Glynn (3)
2 Stella Maris - Chris Deahl and James Wilding (10)
3 Murphy's Barque - Brendan Kellett and Paul Deveney (11)
Diary dates - Forthcoming open events:
4th August - Rossborough Round the Island Race for sportsboat, cruiser/racer & sport catamaran classes (rciyc.je/sailing)
24th and 25th August - Savills Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships (rciyc.je/sailing)
6th to 8th September - Combined Clubs' 21st Jersey Regatta (jerseyregatta.com)