APP Pico Challenge at Island Cruising Club, Salcombe
by Vanda Cunningham 9 Sep 2002 14:05 BST
September 6th 2002
Bright sunshine met the competitors for the 2002 APP Broadcast Pico Challenge. The pursuit race, presided over by Y&Y Roll Tacks editor Rob Andrews, was held in the waters off Egremont, the Island Cruising Club’s base in the waters of Salcombe Harbour. The action was watched over by ICC sailors and students alike who witnessed a combination of slick sailing and flagrant rules breaches from the six competitors.
Rob Carter (camera operator) started first after a masterclass on how to sail from Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson. James Moore (Creative Director) and Fiona Watson (Assistant Producer) were next with Moore, a former south coast Topper sailor and Watson, an accomplished Flying Fifteen crew, showing mastery of the conditions. Andrew Preece (Producer) started alongside RYA representative Jonathan Davis and a mystery competitor. These three were locked in battle for two laps demonstrating many rule breaches (including a hand-off on James Moore by the mystery competitor) until Olympic Gold medallist Shirley Robertson set off. Robertson was unable to make an early impression but the quality of Rob Andrew’s handicapping came to the fore as three sailors headed for the dockside finish. With Moore, Watson and the others out of contention it was a race for the line between Carter, Robertson and Preece. Preece was the first to fail as the wind shadow of the Egremont saw him falling in for an early swim. Robertson and Carter dashed for the line with Carter sneaking in first at the favoured end to win by less than a boat length.
A good time was had by all – including the spectators who were treated to a rare display of sailing from right across the spectrum of skill - and Carter was awarded the perpetual trophy: a brass rubbing of Robertson’s gold medal.