Four RCOD’s were racing over the RB’s Whitsun Regatta 25-27th May, with glorious sunshine and conditions for all bar 1 race. The only constant crew team was Corsair, and it showed as their pace and boat handling were impeccable and improving all weekend their start on Monday outshone everyone.  The rest of the boats’ crews had appearances from Karen Alyen, Nick Peel taking a change from a squib, Jackie McKellar making her first guest appearance of the year on Coralie and John Newcombe crewing on Saturday and Monday on different boats and winning on both.

Saturday was glorious from the outset, Cormorant took line honours.  On Sunday with reefs in Corpo took the long tack first after Punto and stretched her legs and went onto a comfortable win, while new member Jeff sailing a RCOD for the first time, was seen helming Cormorant with great skill (not having helmed for 20 years!!) coming in a good 3rd.  The afternoon start was amazingly close, all abreast on the South shore on the way up river, to try and give some protection from lashing rain and blustery conditions.  Jeff deserves special mention for his first outing, an 84 year old boat, reefed and still on its ear, is not everyone’s ideal introduction.  The line honours this time going to Coralie (Sue in her Belgium absence had kindly very lent Coralie to Justin).

So onto Monday, and still all to play for the overall winner.  Corsair showed that practice makes perfect, and had great speed up to No. 11, while Cormorant, this time with Steve on the helm had the courageous to start on the south shore, and sneaked in ahead of Coralie at No.11.  Rounding Punto for the last time didn’t go quite to plan for Coralie, allowing Cormorant to gain a 100 yard lead.  From there it was short tacking up the North shore, and covering tacks galore.  Literally in the last 3 tacks to the line Coralie finally broke free to take the finishing gun, an amazing effort (experience of helming 4 to 45 years!!) by Steve to nearly hold off Justin who was trying every trick to no avail at first.

End results for the w/e, Coralie from Corpo, Cormorant and Corsair .  A fun weekend, the guest crews were all exhausted, just ask Karen (who happened to be wearing Heart rate monitor watch to prove it too!!)  A big thank you to the RB for laying on a very good Regatta.