PMYC’s river “C” races are amongst the most problematic on the annual race calendar. With unreliable and inconsistent breezes along the course,  unhelpful tides, and groundings  to name but a few of the hazards encountered, it was pleasing to see a good fleet of seven yachts turn out for last Sunday’s river “C” event, sailed from Settlement Point to Dennis bridge and return.

With an East-Sou-Easterly breeze, and an incoming tide of around one knot, it was a testament to the skills of the skippers that no yachts broke the start. With the exception of the trimaram 2XS  which appeared to have elected not to contest the start, most yachts got away fairly evenly, although Ninja and Cool Change started a few boat lengths back.

Although giving around 100 meters to the rest of the fleet at the start, it was the trimaran  2XS which took the lead after the first few hundred meters, a lead she retained over the race distance.  Of the six monohulls, Enticer, although short on crew, took the lead over Third Man that started bare headed, but quickly hoisted her spinnaker, while Galene and the smartly turned out  Folie a Deux, the smallest boat in the fleet, were nipping at the heels of the leading boats. Following those boats Ninja led in her duel with Cool Change. 

In a race of three sections, 2XS  crossed the Hibbard ferry and commenced the next leg on her own, as the remaining boats congregated behind the ferry cables, before crossing to recommence racing on the other side of the cables. On this longest leg of the race 2XS set up an unassailable on water lead, while amongst the monohull fleet Enticer held Third Man at bay, while further back Folie a Deux had a healthy lead over the remainder of the fleet. 

Over the finish line there were no surprises with 2XS greeting the line first ahead of Enticer and Third Man. After the hon. Handicapper received the times, Third Man came out a big winner, some seven minutes clear of Ninja, which was a similar margin ahead of third placed Cool Change, which in taking third place retains its healthy series lead. Folie a Deux, despite sailing a competitive race, had sailed insufficient races to set her fair handicap, so was placed midfleet, pending sailing the required minimum number of races.