Pyro's adventures in Cowes

[Sailing Widow]

Both Pyro and CdG are now safely back where they belong on the East Coast, but here's a little account of how he got on when he headed Down South for the BCYC Regatta in Cowes:

The BCYC Regatta was an amazing experience and we were so completely out of our league. Croix des Gardes was easily the most 'down at heel' vessel there, but not the smallest by any account. She was also probably the slowest on handicap, if not overall and we seemed also to be the only owners who were also the skipper and crew. Everyone else had 'done Cannes' and were about to 'do Cowes week' and the like with their pro skippers ("Oh, we just lost our marvellous skipper of three years as he's gone to command 'Hallowe'en'...")

Anyhow, after meticulous planning and then getting holed up in Eastbourne for three days of gales, Pyro and I met up again on Cowes as my RedJet ferry tird up alongside in formation with a rather weary Croix des Gardes at 23:08 on Day 2 of the Regatta. A quick swig of booze and a bit of sleep and we were ready for Day 3 - Ladies Day. Pyro farmed out a rather despondent Bernie to helm The Opposition (aka Clarion of Wight - former Admiral's Cup winner) and left me to helm our pride and joy. Pyro was, let's say, a little disorganised and we set off rather hurridly for the start which we didn't actually know where it was. I was given directions to "follow everyone else" whilst Pyro frantically read the Rules of Engagement. I'm a rookie at this sort of thing and after a few close shaves and a minor domestic I'd decided I'd really had enough and would rather go back but we soldiered it out. Bernie's departure had left us rather short handed (ie 3 on board, me Pyro and John) which meant that things like tacking were a shambles and we couldn't fly the spinnaker but we didn't come last (just).

Next day, reinforcements arrived in the form of Patrick, Ruth Kelly and her William, but the racing was blown out which led us to the Long Inshore on Thursday - the round the island race. It was a long day starting at 0800 and a bit dull. However the sun came out with an increasing wind and it got rather sporting round St Catherine's. We even had our photo taken by Beken themselves and rather fine we look too. We rounded The Needles for the last leg - dead downwind. Wind over tide made life a bit of a handful and Pyro did a valiant job controlling the helm. Beken hung around waiting for the inevitable disaster but eventually got bored and ran for home. Pyro commanded us to jibe to avoid running agrounda nd it all went a bit Pete Tong. FIrstly, we couldn't sheet in the main fast enough, then the boom lifted and got caught on the backstay. Pyro tried to jibe it off but the mainsheet wasn't secure so the boom swung out, then we Chinese jibed and broached. The main ripped at the second reef and everone got rather wet (we didn't quite get the spreaders in the water - but it was close). Pyro and crew managed to recover sufficient main by tying in the third reef (only fitted in Eastbourne) and we limped back to Cowes where we promptly missed the finish line and spent a further 20 minutes struggling back upwind to cross properly.

We got off lightly - Clarion had blown her foresail and another boat had snapped the gooseneck on the boom. Pyro rushed to find an overnight sailmaker to get the main repaired and it was duly collected at 1010 the next day, rushed aboard, fitted on the move and they even made the 1100 start. I don't think we finished last but that was probably due to the number of retirements rather than our performance.

The Parade of Sail was cancelled, so Pyro and crew set off early for a Saturday night in Brighton (and to look up Liz Lowlife) and I drove home with the kiddly-winks. Turns out that Croix des Gardes has also sprung a leak so she's coming out again this weekend for more repairs.

Pyro's not convinced he wants to do this all again!

 

[FullCircle]

Well done for getting there and taking part. Cant be easy lumbering CdeG round the race course with 3 in a blow.

I suggest a wider trawl of the East Coast Forum for crew for next year, I think you would be amazed at the response.

Really enjoyed the write up, thanks.

 

[Jomo]

Well done for getting there and taking part. Cant be easy lumbering CdeG round the race course with 3 in a blow.

I suggest a wider trawl of the East Coast Forum for crew for next year, I think you would be amazed at the response.

Really enjoyed the write up, thanks.

Seconded. Great write up brought to life by my time aboard at the Suffolk Classics. It must have been a little worrying putting CdeG on her side!

 

[flipper]

Thanks again Sarah to you and James for a fantastic time.

You should be proud of CdG as although she might not have been the poshest boat there, she still attracted lots of admiring looks from passers by. I think it was the crew that made her look scruffy…

Looking forward to seeing some more pics!

Patrick

 

[eastcoastbernie]

More from Cowes Classics

I wasn't able to join C des G at Levington for the delivery down as I was attending my son's graduation at Portsmouth. So after his 'big day' Luke's Dad drove me to Eastbourne to meet up with the rest of the crew. They looked pretty shattered having sailed nonstop from Levington. Luke's Dad took Glidergoth home.

Pyro, Patrick, John and Bernie then proceeded to drink Eastbourne dry for the next 3 days or so as we listened to more and more gale warnings. Patrick had to go back to work so jumped ship on the Sunday. So Pyro, John and Bernie set off at 0400 on Monday for Cowes. We tacked every inch of the way with the motor chugging too to help with forward progress. The sea was lumpy and I could tell the tiller would be too heavy for me, so John and Pyro had to share out the helming while I tried to navigate our best course. When we arrived at Cowes it was about 2300 and we were all exhausted. Our booked berth was not available so we rafted up where we could.

Returning to the boat in the morning after a visit ashore, I managed to slip between one boat and the next - must have been all that highly slippery varnish - and landed astride the guard rails. Fortunately John was there to stop me falling down between the two boats. But I was feeling rather bruised and sorry for myself that morning.

After signing on, Pyro returned to C de G and told me other boats were looking for lady helms. I wasn't sure, but the rest of the crew were egging me on, so I thought I'd find out the score. I asked at the regatta office and was trotted along to Clarion of Wight.

Very apprehensive now, because I have heard that Clarion is a bit famous, having once won the Fastnet and the Admiral's Cup. I am introduced to the owner and asked to come aboard. Thinking he will want to interview anyone who puts themselves up as a ladyhelm, I ask if he would like to ask me any questions. He says 'Have you ever been on a boat before?' I say 'Yes'. He says 'You're hired'.

So before I have a chance to change my mind, I'm taking Clarion out to the start line - wherever that might be - motoring because we're late. Then we turn off the engine, sail around looking at the start line and preparing for our start. I was actually catatonic at the time and played no part in any tactical decision making.

We're poised by the inner distance mark and I'm told to head for the line. We cross the line as the gun goes and the first time I've sailed the boat to windward is as we cross. 'You're well off the wind!' calls the owner and I make a quick adjustment. The crew are all really nice to me and keep encouraging me and everything goes very well.

The owner asks the rest of crew not to let me get too close to other boats as I might turn the wheel the wrong way as I'm used to a tiller. But they don't seem to be too interested in that order and we have some exciting port and starboards and riding on quarterwaves. There's a fetch towards the end of the race which is the hardest work as we are rather overcanvassed and I'm sitting down to leeward so I can see the telltales, my bum nearly in the sea and the rainwater running down the boom and into my eyes. The wheel's a bit heavy too with so much canvas up.

But very soon the race - and my brief moment of glory - are all over. Apparently we crossed the line in second place and our corrected time gave us a fifth, so I was very happy.

As Glidergoth says, the following day was blown off, then we did the Round The Island, then a 'survival race' on the last day. On the last day a lady came around to remind people about the posh prizegiving supper. 'Blazer and tie required for the dinner at 7.30, the crew can come at 9.00 just in their jacket and tie'. Pyro and Glidergoth went, the rest of us had fish and chips!

Then Pyro, John, Steph and I took several enjoyable days to bring C des G back up to Ipswich, calling in at Brighton, Eastbourne and Ramsgate before arrival in the Orwell. Winds were strong, but in our favour this time, C des G recording 13 1\2 knots SOG at one time.

Thanks Pyro for a memorable week. Surfing around the Needles was just one of the many highlights.

Bernie x

 

[Master_under_Dog]

Great accounts of an event which, to this beginner, sounds a pretty daunting series of challenges. Any chance of a look at the Beken pictures?

Michael

 

[Paperfacedt]

Many thanks to James and Sarah and everyone else on board the illustrious 'Pollygar'(!) for a fantastic week and for showing me the ropes, so to speak. Very kind of you all to welcome a complete clueless lemon such as myself, especially for the racing! Round the Island was certainly an exciting introduction and won't be forgotten in a hurry. Particularly glad that I didn't miss out on the delights of Eastbourne on the way back, and that I still have all my fingers. Hope to have the opportunity to buy you all a beer before/after the big trip, hopefully I'll have a better idea of what I've got myself into by then!

Steph