After two exciting days of racing, Peter Hofman's Classic Llanoria and Paul Smith's Modern Valhalla were victorious at the International Six Metre Class British Open Championship in Falmouth. Hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, the British Open acted as the warm up event for the Six Metre European Championship 2014, which gets underway today. The opening day of the British Open brought overcast skies but a lovely sailing breeze enabling the fleet to complete all three of the day's planned races on a windward leeward course set against the stunning backdrop of Falmouth Bay.
In the Modern Division, Bertie Bicket's Scoundrel I claimed first blood beating Richard Clothier's Battlecry and Valhalla on the line. Race two went to Battlecry with Valhalla second and Scoundrel I third, and in the final race of the day the finish order was Valhalla first followed by Scoundrel I second and Don Martin's Blade Runner third. At the end of day one Valhalla and Scoundrel I were tied for the lead on six points with Battlecry third on nine points.
In the Classic Division Llanoria won the first and third race of the opening day and finished second in race two to lead her fleet overnight. Rainer Muller's Gallant had a very consistent day one with two seconds and a third and ended the day lying second with William Brooks' Lucie and Andy Postle's Titia tied for third on twelve points each.
The sun shone on day two but there was less wind and only two races could be completed. In the Modern Division Valhalla demonstrated her superiority with a pair of wins. Scoundrel I took second in race four with Blade Runner third, Robin Richardson's St Kitts fourth and Battlecry fifth. In the final race of the day Scoundrel I got the wrong side of the line on a black flag and was sent home early. That left Battlecry to take second with Claes Henningsson's Notorious third, Beat Furrer's Temptation 3 fourth and Hugo Stenbeck's Sophie II fifth. In the overall standings for the Moderns Valhalla had a firm grip on first place, while Scoundrel I was delighted to see the introduction of the discard as it meant she could throw out her black flag and claim second overall, with Battlecry taking the final step on the podium.
In the Classic Division day two was equally tense. William Booth's Flapper won the first race from Llanoria and Lucie, but then finished ninth in the second. Lanoria was victorious in race five, beating Titia and Sir Peter Harrison's Nada across the line to secure her overall victory in the Classic Division. Gallant had a very consistent day with a pair of fourth places which was enough to give her second place overall. Flapper struggled in the final light airs race and could only manage a ninth, which she promptly discarded to take third place overall.
After racing the teams enjoyed a wonderful open air Prize Giving for the British Open and Welcome Reception for the Six Metre European Championship on the waterfront lawn of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club.
With 16 Classic and 11 Modern entries, the Six Metre European Championship gets underway today with up to three of the eight races scheduled being sailed on windward leeward courses in Falmouth Bay. After racing the International Six Metre Association will hold its Annual General Meeting at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall. The European Championship continues until Friday 26 July with racing currently scheduled until Thursday 25 July and Friday in reserve as a lay day. The forecast for the week indicates light winds so the Race Committee is keeping the option to race on Friday open if required.
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