Charlestown Regatta at Porthpean Sailing Club

Charlestown Regatta is a week-long event and is a feature in mid-Cornwall for visitors and locals alike. Porthpean Sailing Club have always used it as an excuse for some extra sailing and generally, while most visitors are watching the raft race in the harbour area, we're doing our thing out in bay. Regatta Rocks tickets were up for grabs so it was all to play for in the three-race afternoon shoot-out.

Several of our regular sailors had decided to take a holiday, although the home fleet was bolstered up with visitors from our neighbouring club at Pentewan, Torpoint Mosquitos and Saltash Sailing clubs.

Charlestown Regatta at Porthpean Sailing Club - photo © Steve Coello

Initially after a small delay until the wind decided in which direction it was coming from, the fleets got under way on the reverse P course in 10 knots of breeze. In the fast fleet the Tasar class had a strong showing, team Hawkins after arriving home from Garda were setting the pace, with Steve & Polly Mitchell and Allan Orton in his Blaze chasing hard. Slightly further back there were real battles being fought with Matt Johnston & Amelia, Richard Armstrong & Ken Fobbester, Paddy & Seyler & Sarah Dejonqueres all wanting a place in the top 5. The Hawkins eventually won from the Mitchells & Orton with Johnston/Barnett and Armstrong & Fobbester completing the top 5. In the slow fleet the two Laser Radials of Janet Preston & Jonathan Couch were having a great race. The fleet was being led by the Kestrel of Pete/Jo Barnes with Shaun Welsh in his Supernova. Unfortunately the Barnsies had not read the sailing instructions properly and decided to lead Welsh towards the wrong mark. Meanwhile the Lasers of Preston and Couch were sailing away. Janet Preston sailed a magnificent race to win on handicap from Couch, Welsh, eventually finishing third.

Race 2 and the wind was starting to build nicely, the visiting Darts from Pentewan were managing to fly a hull now and were right in the mix with the monohulls. This made for some interesting tactical mark roundings. Ben Hillier and Claire Reigate led the fleet in their Dart 18 meanwhile slightly further back, Orton in his Blaze and Alex Carr in his Phantom were set on denying the Tasar sailors of The Mitchells & Hawkins. Orton eventually won from the Mitchells, Hawkins and Carr.

Charlestown Regatta at Porthpean Sailing Club - photo © Steve Coello

In the slow fleet Welsh and the Barnsies managed to sail the correct course but were robbed of victory on handicap by Jonathan Couch in his Laser. Welsh finished second on handicap with Preston making up the top three.

Race 3 the wind had built now to 13 knots, the raft race was done and dusted, however there were still Regatta rocks tickets to sail for.

The Hawkins and Orton were really determined to get their Friday night booked with tickets in their hands and had a great battle, meanwhile Seyler/Dejonqueres, Team Mitchell and Charlie & Emily Nunn all had an outside chance of picking up some too. The Hawkins eventually booked their Friday night out and won from Orton, Seyler/Dejonqueres filled the top three with Team Mitchell, and Team Nunn completing the top five. Meanwhile in the Cats Hillier/Reigate had got the upper hand.

In the slow fleet Welsh eventually got his act together taking honours on the water and overall victory from Couch, with the Barnsies just finishing ahead of Preston and James/Anna Liffe in their Wayfarer.

Charlestown Regatta at Porthpean Sailing Club - photo © Isobel Keilbart

After a great day of racing a fantastic BBQ was enjoyed by all and a representative of Charlestown Regatta presented some hard earned Regatta Rocks tickets.

Normal club racing resumes this Wednesday, the back end of the season looks as though we have plenty of exciting racing to come, some of our newly formed teams are really starting to blossom. Our next feature event is during the August bank holiday weekend, and should be epic.

Massive thanks again to our wonderful volunteers on and off the water; incredible!

Overall Results: