J24 Autumn Cup at Plym Yacht Club

J24 Autumn Cup at Plymouth © Julie Mills

The Plym Yacht Club hosted the Autumn Cup last weekend. The event was the last qualifying event in the UK for the 2025 Worlds being held in Plymouth next September.

With several teams unable to make the event as they were off to Seattle for this year's Worlds, it was good to see 15 boats on the water. Special mention to Thomas Wills and the youth team in the Class Association boat Jo Jo, who were out for their first event. Similarly, Alice Senior joined the fray helming Hi Jinks for the first time.

Saturday morning dawned with a moderate easterly breeze and the predicted risk of thunderstorms in the earlier forecasts reducing. With conditions favourable and large spring tides the Race Officer set the course south of Plymouth Breakwater. Four races were scheduled, and the first race started on time at 1100 with everyone getting away cleanly. The Fleet split between going offshore for the tide advantage or into the breakwater for more pressure, it was pretty finely balanced with clean lanes being the key to a good result. Roger Morris in Jolly Roger prevailed, closely followed by Italian Job and Hi Jinks.

The Committee Boat end of the line was favoured for the second start and going right up the beat seemed to pay...after 2 laps Wijit took line honours with Juggernaut second and Majic in third. For Race 3 the wind had swung a little to the right and with the Channel tidal stream turning, a punt into the Breakwater was the way to go. NJO2 led from the start pursued by Wijit and Jolly Roger.

We were all being so well behaved at the starts... it couldn't last! Race 4 saw the first General Recall followed by Flag U for the subsequent restart. Most boats took heed but unfortunately 3 boats were still a little trigger happy. Tim Octon in NJO2 had found good boat speed and took his second win of the day with Majic and Jolly Roger making up the top 3. All boats headed back to Yacht Haven Marina having had a brilliant day's sailing.

A further 3 races were planned for Sunday, but the weather gods were not playing. Plymouth Sound was glassy, and the wind was not forecast to rise above 5 knots. The Race Officer held the fleet in marina while he went out to assess the viability of setting a course north of the Breakwater. However, after a 3-hour postponement racing for the day was cancelled.

The overall results from Saturday's racing were close with a single point between first and second and third and fourth places having to be decided on countback and the last race.

Sam Marshall's Wijit wins the J24 Autumn Cup at Plymouth - photo © Julie Mills

Thanks to David Rollinson and the Race Team on the Committee Boat Mr Orion, and not forgetting the mark laying team of Rob Tantam and his lads Tom and James. The oscillating wind kept them busy and they did a sterling job to achieve four good races on the Saturday. A final note of thanks to Sam Marshall and the Plym for running another excellent event.

Overall Results: