Rye Harbour Sailing Club held the last two races of the Pocket Cruiser Series last weekend. The race on Saturday was also for the Ladies Cup awarded to the leading boat with a female helm.
Five boats raced on Saturday, four with a lady helm. There was a light southwesterly wind, force 2. It was a glorious sunny and warm afternoon. Mystic Sky got off to a good start and reached the Westerly mark ahead of the fleet. The fleet in succession then flew their spinnakers, some rather more skilfully than others as can be seen in the photographs taken by Richard Cooper in Palomino, who was not racing.
Reaching the Eastern mark, boats recovered their spinnakers to beat to the finish line with Close Encounters using an unorthodox procedure to recover theirs.
The Ladies Cup was won by Mystic Sky, helm Alison Hopper. Second was Limbo Girl, helm Sophie Preston and third Helena Anne, helm Caroline Wylson.
Sunday’s forecast was promising similar conditions to Saturday but it was not to be. Five boats started a very late afternoon race: Roxanne, Limbo Girl, Mallard, Mystic Sky, and Lady Jane.
The course was the same as Saturday’s but the wind died and, when they rounded the Eastern mark, boats were making about one knot. The majority of the fleet decided to retire in order to get back on their mooring whilst there was still water. The leading boat Roxanne and the last boat Limbo Girl completed the course.
The results of the Pocket Cruiser IRC Series can be seen at www.rhsc.org.uk . Mallard won, Mystic Sky second and Roxanne third.
Photos: Richard Cooper and RHSC