RCYC Cruiser Fleet – Swallowtail Race and evening meal – Saturday 24th June 2023.

After a very fickle, light airs, hot and sunny Saturday morning, the start of the annual Cruiser Class Swallowtail Race was delayed twice and eventually got underway after a 13:45 start from the RCYC line heading down the river into a light, but building, SE sea breeze against the flood tide.

First off the line was Trinco, a Contessa 26 (Peter, Caroline, Robbie and Maggie (cockapoo dog) Hooper, followed by Voyager, a Dufour 32 (Simon, Sarah and Hannah Saunders) and Pericles, a Contessa 26 (single handed Jack Page).

Despite a few easterly wind flicks, the fleet managed a close fetch to round the Redward buoy and headed into the Roach. Rounding the Jubilee buoy, Trinco was the only one to set her spinnaker, with a close reach round the Foulness corner and across to the Holliwell buoy, then a shy to shy spinnaker gybe and a run back with the tide to finish on the RCYC line.

Under the, new this year, RYA-YCT yacht handicap system, the race was won by Trinco, then Voyager then Pericles.

Afterwards we all enjoyed a very social Class bistro in the Club during which the Swallowtail Trophy was presented to the Hooper family. A big thank you goes out to Steve Barham and Ian Keam-George (whilst holidaying in Lanzarote) for all their organisation and race support.

Peter hooper
24th June 2023