COGS Races 2009

Click here for current COGS results for St Mawes boats

Please check the COGS site for any changes to these dates and for more race results.

Race 1 Report - Sharp's Brewery Falmouth to Fowey Race

StMSC lies in joint third place with RFYC in the Team Results after the First race.

The COGS Season started in a sea fog which made it difficult to judge the Start Line transit between Pendennis and Black Rock but with ‘encouragement’ from the RCYC Race officer on Ch.72, a clean start was achieved by all. (who could be seen!)
A direct course from Falmouth to Fowey was chosen due to light airs, considerably shorter than the normal alternatives around Bay Buoy and into St Austell bay.
32 entries, 26 starters all of whom finished. (15 PY class and  11 IRC class. 8 two handed).
The light SE winds gave a choice to the tacticians to beat South and take advantage of the stronger tides and expected veering winds and those who did were most successful.
The fog persisted and some navigation was essential. China Blue, a Maxi1100, skippered by Chris de Glanville had electrical failure before the start and had to rely on compass and handheld GPS. China Blue incidentally has now joined the professionals in the IRC fleet with a rating of 1.007.

The other StMSC entry in IRC class was Alert,  a Jeanneau, rated 0.911, sailed by Paul Vincent and Graham with guest crew Andy who regularly drive all the way from Grimsby for a weekends racing.  That’s how good COGS Racing is! “when racing demands a little bit more” is the COGS motto.
Paul took 3rd place on the IRC podium

Sadly Sigma 33 Jambo did not get to the line and Brian’s fine wining and dining guidance in Fowey was missed by all. It should be noted that another Sigma 33 won IRC class!

In the PY Class Jomara made its debut;  a Sadler 34, PY1004, sailed by Peter Anzacot, who until recently raced Juma, (Brian Robert’s previous boat). She finished in 6th in the PY Fleet.

Roger and Clare Wood found the intensive pre-season shake-downs and practice in Toddy’s old Marieholm, Sundance, PY 1060, helped their transition from the Ajax fleet. They stormed into 3rd PY and 2-handed, a fine performance. It will be interesting when Saellon Verre comes out to play offshore again.

Rupert, on behalf of the Merry Marieholmers, tells us that he is hoping to rustle up 8 entries for the Eddystone Race (COGS4) on 20th June.
By way of encouragement it should be noted that the top three boats in the PY Class and two-handed fleet were 26 footers , two folkboats and a Contessa 26. There’s a lot of silver and glassware waiting to be picked up chaps.
This time the race was not physically demanding and even 1st and 2nd place in the IRC fleet were 2-handed whereas the multi-crewed  high performance yachts who frequently pick up the prizes did less well.

Even Turtle Dove, Saltram Saga 40, PY 1000, after several hours dithering hoisted her spinnaker to keep on the pace . The wind had by then veered to SW. This is a very rare  and scary event for Martha and Richard but necessary to give a competitive Rustler 42 a close dice. The question was could they get it down again after the RFYC finish line but it was worth it to gain a few places and finish 5th in PY Class, 4th 2-handed.

A splendid start to COGS with 10 boats finishing within 5 minutes of each other after 4/5 hours racing over diverse courses and for much of the time only in sight of one or two other competitors.

Seen here are Paul Vincent, 3rd in IRC and lurking nearby Roger Wood, 3rd in PY class.