After a short delay the Janes Cup race started downwind from the Branklet Buoy on the River Crouch at 0810 heading for a turning mark at the Whitaker. There then followed a beat into an ebb tide and 20 knot wind for some 25 miles. Its nice when it stops!
In class 1 Flying Fish (First 40.7, Stephen Hendry) had a day to forget as the head of their headsail pulled out as they hoisted it for the beat and they retired and motored to the finish with an expensive carbon fibre flag flying from the end of the headsail halyard. At least they were the first into the bar.
Scratch boat, Mercury (Club Swan 42, Ross Eldred) was the first boat to finish after nearly 9 hours racing. Unfortunately for them the tide turned just as they finished so, although finishing over an hour in front of the next boat they could not save their time as the slower boats were able to finish the race with a building flood tide. Oh the joy of handicap racing!
Second boat over the line, Spirit (Sigma 38, Paul Scott) reveled in the conditions to win class 2 and was a popular overall winner from the class 3 winner Woozel Hunter (Sigma 33, P Hammond, D Harrington-Lynn, A Pentelow, A Thomas)
With the last boat finishing just before 1900 the fleet retired to the MYC clubhouse for a well deserved meal and prizegiving.
Overall results
- Spirit (Sigma 38, Paul Scott)
- Woozel Hunter (Sigma 33, P Hammond, D Harrington-Lynn, A Pentelow, A Thomas)
- Magic Moments (Sigma 33, Andy Etherington)
- Mercury (Club Swan 42, Ross Eldred)
- Golden Fleece (S&S 41, Michael Wheeler & Jason Wheeler)