Prima 38 Spring Cup in Plymouth Sound Overall
by Sam Badrick 12 Mar 2001 10:49 GMT
On Saturday the 3rd and Sunday the 4th of March, the Prima 38 Spring Cup was held for the first time in Plymouth Sound. Organised by Seaquest Yachts, the builders of the boats based in Falmouth, the event was held over the two days with the intention of having two races a day.
Saturday’s racing was held in a cold, 20 to 25 Knot East-North-easterly breeze. The course was set for a beat to Dunstone followed by a run to Queens Grounds. A line was positioned with the aid of the start/finish R.I.B. which was funded by www.boathow.com for the weekend.
The first race was a battle at the front, with Hi Expectations, Mighty Max 2 and White Knuckles all taking turns in leading to the first mark. Eventually Hi Expectations, helmed by Phil Harrison, rounded Dunstone only 2 boat lengths ahead of White Knuckles. Mighty Max 2, owned by Andy Williams and only launched 2 weeks ago, rounded in third with Great Bear forth. The down wind leg saw a position change at the front, when Ian Luscombe got inside Hi Expectations to round ahead. From this point, White Knuckles played a covering game and increased her lead over the two rounds to win by over a minute and a half from Hi Expectations, with Mighty Max2 in third and Great Bear forth.
Race 2 was run over the same course. With the breeze building, the start was a boisterous affair. The four Primas hit the line at full speed and with what sounded like all forty crew members shouting for their respectful positions on the start line. Once they got away, the beat was again a close contest, with White Knuckles and Hi Expectations rounding the windward mark side by side. The down wind leg was perfect for these exciting boats, all planing at over thirteen knots! The last round was to produce the closest finish of the weekend. Hi Expectations and White Knuckles traded the lead four times on the final run. On the line it was White Knuckles by less than half a boat length over Hi Expectations, with Mighty Max 2 only 12 seconds back. Great Bear who is currently looking for a new owner finished forth, but that did not dampen the spirits of a crew invited from all over the country by Seaquest Yachts to see these boats in action.
Sunday was a totally different affair. The start was postponed for forty-five minutes due to the lack of wind. Eventually a light breeze filled to three or four knots, sufficient to start race three. This time the course was set for a beat to C- Buoy followed by a run to F- Buoy. The start was dominated by Hi Expectations executing a text book port flyer crossing the fleet by the narrowest of margins, a move Phil Harrison will no doubt be looking to emulate when he and his crew take on a number of Prima 38’s in the Solent Spring Series which starts in two weeks time. At the Windward mark it was the same two boats battling it out for the lead, a true sign of just how closely matched these yachts are. Hi Expectations rounded inside White Knuckles, both spinnakers went up together, but the trimmers on White Knuckles, who are Nigel Gray and Trevor Griffith managed to get theirs pulling first. A drift threatened and the course was shortened to just one round. On the final down wind leg, Mighty Max 2 made boatspeed look like second nature to them, by sailing right around the fleet to look like taking the lead in the closing stages, a great feeling for this very new crew taking on what must be two of the best sailed Prima’s in what is now a seventeen strong fleet. Unfortunately, they ran out of wind but managed to hold on to second. Great Bear had a very close finish with Hi Expectations, but could not quite get through and finished in forth place.
The forth race was eventually abandoned due to the lack of wind.
The prizes were kindly donated by Andy Williams who presented Bob Gateshill and the crew of White Knuckles with the first Prima 38 Spring Cup. They were outright winners with three wins out of three. Second place went to Phil Harrison and Hi Expectations with seven points, third was Andy Williams and Mighty Max 2 with eight points and Great Bear forth.
After such a good response from all those who took part, this event looks set to become a regular feature in the Plymouth Yachting calendar.
"We were very pleased with the response from all who took part at the weekend, owners and crew alike. It was an absolute spectacle to see four of these exciting 38-foot yachts racing in Plymouth. We are now working on the Autumn Cup in the Solent which will have the Plymouth boats taking part in the biggest gathering of Prima 38's to date, fourteen in all. We are hoping to attract a similar number to Plymouth Sound next year.
Designed with the idea of moving the Sigma 33 and 38 concept forward, this is now the fastest growing one design big boat fleet in the country.
We look forward to seeing the Prima 38's sailing to the front of the fleet during this year and many more to follow, just watch this space!" commented Adrian Gray of Seaquest Ltd who organised the event.
Overall Results:
1st White Knuckles I
2nd Hi Expectations
3rd Mighty Max 2
4th Great Bear
|
|
More Information: