South West Sailing

Fowey Week this year was not helped by the weather with strong winds reducing fleet numbers on the passage race to Falmouth on the Sunday and the return to Fowey on the Monday.
No Ajaxes made the trip up to Fowey from St Mawes as Tuesday also proved to be a bit too breezy off the Dodman for a 23 ft open boat.

Only 3 Sunbeams made the trip up to Fowey but a large contingent of Working Boats no doubt spurred on by the warmth of the welcome at Fowey managed the passage.

Sadly racing was blown off on Tuesday and Wednesday and so Thursday proved the only day of activity for the visiting Falmouth fleets with a win apiece for Evelyn in the Working boats and Clary in the Sunbeams.

The highlight of the Week however is the Harbour Race for Working Boats and a fleet of 14 boats made it a magnificent sight for crowds of spectators lining both sides of the River.

It was as so often decided at the start with Demelza skippered by JA getting the perfect start and disappearing off down River never to be headed. Mayhem followed on behind with Evelyn (David Mathewson) and Helen Mary (Kevin Andrew) making the initial running before spinning off at the first turning mark to let Irene (Robert Northey) and Boy Willie (Timmie Vinnicombe) take up the pursuit.

Irene and Boy Willie enjoyed a terrific scrap throughout the next two rounds but could not catch Demelza who deservedly won this nerve-wracking event.

Racing 14 Working Boats in a tight confined seaway takes an incredible amount of skill from skippers and their crews especially in any sort of breeze.

Irene just held off Boy Willie by half a bowsprit to take 2nd place with a charging Cousin Jinny (Graham Pearce) coming through to finish 4th.

The one thing about Fowey, which I always enjoy, is the mastery of Alan Toms in the Troy Class.

The Troys and the Fowey Rivers and the dinghy fleets raced all week within the confines of the Harbour.

Head and shoulders above all else in terms of performance was Mr. Toms winning the Troy Class for the umpteen time in T26 Moonstone and giving a sailing lesson to all on how to sail in Fowey Harbour.
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