Falmouth Classics 2018

After our memorable time at Antigua Classics in 2016, I have long wanted to participate in Falmouth Classics. This was the year and our wonderful sailing freinds John and Gill agreed to join us as crew.

We met John and Gill in the Caribbean when they were sailing on Petronella a Joshua. They have recently sold her and are currently in the process of buying a new boat. 

Falmouth Classics fleet in the harbour

I was a bit excited, I know that John the previous owner and builder of Island Swift had won many races. We wanted to be competitive but also to have fun and not get too serious! So of course I was not at all competitative! Not at all! I only changed the working jib to a lighter larger jib, and set up new jib sheets so that we could tack more smoothly. So, not at all competitive!

Solstice sunrise 

John and Gill arrived Wednesday evening.  We had a lovely calm evening in the Helford River, followed by a beautiful solstice sunrise the next morning.  

After a gentil morning we set sail for Falmouth. There was a good head wind as we beat our way north towards Falmouth with one reef and staysail.  Then after vhf instructions from Falmouth Classics, we came alongside at raft of other participating boats in Falmouth Haven, and put up our flags!

Flying our flags

The following day two races were planned.  In the end it was a bit farcical as the race start was first delayed for a big ship coming in, then the start line was changed three times! By the time we started the race there was only time for one race. 

Just before the race, 5 minities before we were told the race code. This gave us the course to sail.  Without John keeping an ear on the vhf and figuringout the compicated race route we would have been a mess. Simon and Gill did a grand job on the sheets, which I had made harder by changing the system for the day!

We had no idea about who we were racing or where we came in the race. We latter found that we we had come a respectable fourth place. Not bad at all. Infact after the next race on the Saturday we came third overall in our class which I was very happy about. 

The saturday race was very slow, with very little wind. J&G left early morning and Malin joined us for the day. On the Sunday we participate in the parade of sail and continued on to the River Helford to leave the boat while we went away working.
We really enjoyed the whole weekend. It was wonderful to be sailing and although the shore activities could have been better, we will be back.

June 2018

John our Navigator, making sure we knew where we were going

Gill, cheering us on and wishing for winches

Simon First Mate, making sure we don't get too serious

JoJo, Skipper at chart table