Sunday 12^th January 2020

Campaigning ‘Lyra of London’, Ausome and the Fastnet Race  –  presented by Miles Delap

The event began with the presentation of the ‘Rose Gilt Bowl’. The trophy dates back to 1936 and is awarded annually for the highest placed RCYC yacht in a Royal Ocean Racing Club offshore race.  (Pictured left to right:  Miles Delap, his wife Joanne and their daughter Rosie, with Cruiser Captain Steve Barham.)

RCYC member and guest speaker Miles Delap gave the audience an insight into what is involved in campaigning his Swan 431 in offshore races.  A gentle beginning to the talk showed early pictures of his family’s sailing adventures on the East Coast.  The sailing adventures went up a notch when the family purchased ‘Lyra of London’.

Miles explained the mandatory equipment inventory and documentation required for competing offshore and the diagrams, instructions and recommendations in written form that enables the crew to be confident of the yacht and it’s operation in any eventuality.

In addition to family and friends a pool of potential racing crew has been accumulated with the help of social media.  Full racing format requires a crew of eight to ten sailors bringing a variety of skills to the yacht ensuring successful participation in any given race which can last in excess of 36 hours.

Photographs and videos of exciting sailing conditions provided an idea of the experience on board ‘Lyra’.

In the last part of his talk Miles explained how he came to lend ‘Lyra’ to the charity ‘Ausome’ enabling a largely Autistic crew to enter the 2019 Fasnet Race.  Like many other yachts in the race and to the disappointment of the crew poor weather conditions dictated that retirement from the race was the correct choice but the retirement is but a footnote to the great achievement the venture had been, benefiting all of the participants.

Some questions from the audience were taken followed by a vote of thanks to Miles which in turn was followed by transition to the tables set out for the excellent Carvery meal which was enjoyed by sixty members and their guests.

Sheena Cousins organised a collection after the meal and thanks to the generosity of those attending a substantial amount was donated to ‘Pact for Autism’, a charity supporting families affected by the condition and based in Harlow.  The charity was chosen by Joanne Delap.

The next ‘Cruiser Fleet Lunch with Speaker’ is on Sunday 23^rd of February.

Steve Barham

Cruiser Class Captain