Waller-Harris Triangle Race at Royal Channel Islands YC

by William Harris on 14 Jul 2012 Waller-Harris 2-Handed Triangle Race 17th edition was held at Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club from 7th to 9th July. For July, one might have hoped for better weather. As it was, the twelve-strong fleet comprising many faithful followers of this ever-popular event were greeted by strong southerly winds, lumpy seas and driving rain when they came to the line in St Aubin’s Bay for the 1500 hrs start on Saturday.

With the sponsors, Rodney Waller and Bill Harris, manning the committee boat, the fleet was sent promptly on its way to Granville on the Normandy coast. It was not until the fleet was passing north of Chausey that the rain gradually ceased, the wind dropped and veered westwards giving rise to a blossoming of spinnakers as boats headed for the finish line at the Videcoq buoy. The more fleet-footed boats established an early lead with Mike de Figueiredo and Charles Blampied’s Dufour 44, Patience, taking line honours in class one after just under five hours sailing, hotly pursued by Rhys Perkins and Bob de la Haye on the Archambault 35, Abracadabra, and Charles and Louise Blampied’s X-40, Minx.

Racing in class two, the Oceanis 37 Sula Bassana, with Vince Smith and Bruce Henstridge, was well up with her class one counterparts to take line honours but it was Peter Crabb’s Starflash, Jackflash, with Graeme Monks crewing, which carried the day on corrected time. Sula Bassana, beating the class one boats on corrected time, was second with Arthur Manning’s Starlight 35, Knight Star, crewed by the youngest sailor in the fleet, Chris Gallichan.

Following the customary social night ashore the fleet lined up once again off the fishing harbour at Granville for a nine forty-five start on Sunday morning, under the auspices of the YC de Granville. True to form, the strong westerly wind had kicked up an enormous chop between the harbour and the Loup tower, more than enough to challenge the strongest stomachs. Conditions, though rain free, were fairly uncomfortable for the better part of the beat westwards. However, the breeze eased about halfway down the course and the sun made a very welcome appearance. Once again it was Patience that forged ahead to take class one line honours at the Les Bourdinots buoy off St Cast-le-Guildo, to be beaten again by Abracadabra on corrected time.

Discretion ruled the day for Jackflash who chose to sit the race out in Granville, leaving the field open to Sula Bassana to take line honours and the race in class two, again beating the class one boats on corrected time. Knight Star notched up a second place whilst Trevor Beaton and Jane Mourant’s Starlight 35, Ocean Star, was third.

Unsurprisingly, the second night ashore proved to be a little quieter than the previous one with crews enjoying a more leisurely start for the final leg, back to Jersey, on Monday morning. With a light north-westerly wind blowing, grey skies and only a slight sea, boats started for home at ten o’clock from the line at the Les Bourdinots buoy. The vagaries of the wind played havoc with skippers’ tactics with some finding holes in the wind that stopped them, short from time to time. The appearance of the Tour de France à la Voile, heading to St Cast under spinnaker, to the west of the Minquiers, provided a little diversion as the fleet headed north.

With the breeze filling in later in the day, boats made good time in excellent sailing conditions with Patience finishing in the St Helier Small Roads only marginally ahead of Minx. However, it was Abracadabra that took line honours, well clear of her two rivals, thereby completing the hat trick.

The race produced Sula Bassana’s second win, taking line honours and the race by a very healthy margin from Knight Star who had recovered well from an unexpected spi drop and mast climb shortly after passing the northwest Minquiers buoy. Daniel Le Marquand’s J35C, Jabot, crewed by Richard Plane, took third.

The place prize-giving was held in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club on Wednesday evening when Commodore Sandra Carroll presented the prizes, in the presence of the sponsors, prior to the close-of-event supper.

Diary dates: 11 August – British Airways Round Jersey Race
24 – 26 August – Brewin Dolphin British Hobie Cat National Championships
7 – 9 September - Brewin Dolphin 14th Jersey Regatta

Principal results:
Leg 1 –Jersey to Granville
Class 1
1 Abracadabra – Rhys Perkins and Bob de la Haye (4.54.24)
2 Patience – Mike de Figueiredo and Charles Gruchy (5.10.53)
3 Minx – Charles and Louise Blampied (5.12.05)

Class 2
1 Jackflash – Peter Crabb and Graeme Monks (4.34.59)
2 Sula Bassana – Vince Smith and Bruce Henstridge (4.39.36)
3 Knight Star – Arthur Manning and Chris Gallichan (4.57.14)
4 Leapfrog – Roger Leonard and Gavin Paisley (4.58.40)

Leg 2 – Granville to St Cast-le-Guildo
Class 1
1 Abracadabra (4.46.04)
2 Patience (4.57.41)
3 Minx (5.08.26)

Class 2
1 Sula Bassana (4.41.26)
2 Knight Star (4.53.32)
3 Ocean Star – Trevor Beaton and Jane Mourant (5.12.03)
4 Leapfrog (5.14.32)

Leg 3 – St Cast-le-Guildo to Jersey
Class 1
1 Abracadabra (6.13.34)
2 Minx (6.43.51)
3Patience (7.00.01)

Class 2
1 Sula Bassana (6.22.00)
2 Knight Star (6.48.47)
3 Jabot – Dan Le Marquand and Richard Plane (6.53.21)
4 Leapfrog (7.27.15)

Overall
Class 1
1 Abracadabra (3)
2 Patience (7)
3 Minx (8)

Class 2
1 Sula Bassana (4)
2 Knight Star (7)
3 Leapfrog (12)
4 Ocean Star Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club website