Pallot Glass and Windows race to St Cast-le-Guildo overall

by Bill Harris on 31 Jul 2013 An easterly breeze, gusting to thirty knots, greeted the fleet that turned out for the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s recent Pallot Glass and Windows forty mile offshore race to the Brittany port of St Cast-le-Guildo.

Starting conditions in St Aubin’s Bay were, therefore, fairly brisk with the wind kicking up a considerable chop despite the Bay being in the lee of the land. With conditions to the south of the Bay being even livelier, the race committee aboard a Club RIB abandoned the intended windward mark idea and settled for a running start off the Vrachière buoy, comfortably tucked well inside the Bay.

Starting at a little after eight thirty on the Saturday morning, the fleet sailed southwestwards out of the Bay on a broad reach turning westwards on a dead run for the Passage Rock buoy lying to the south of St Brelade’s Bay. Julian Barber’s Elan 410, Chez Moi, led the way off the line with the Westerly Merlins of Mark Tucker, Lisia, and Chris Deahl, Arrasy, close behind. Chez Moi was well ahead by the Passage Rock buoy where she gybed for the long broad reach to the finish line at the Les Bourdinots buoy off St Cast. Spinnakers were not much in evidence on the day and the one gybe witnessed by the race committee clearly did not go according to plan. Alan Stevens’ First 44.7, Zanzibar followed Chez Moi round the Passage Rock buoy with Roger Leonard’s Sigma 36, Leapfrog close astern.

With the breeze holding throughout the day, Chez Moi made a very quick passage to take line honours in the IRC class, finishing in just over four and a quarter hours with Zanzibar snapping at her heels just two minutes behind. Finishing nine minutes behind Chez Moi on corrected time, Leapfrog sailed well to take second place relegating Zanzibar to third.

Andrew Jelley and Mike Seguss’ First 31.7, Jack Rabbit, led throughout in the NHC class to cross the line almost at the same time as Leapfrog to be followed shortly afterwards by Trevor Beaton’s Sadler Starlight 35, Ocean Star. It was, however, to be the Westerly Merlins’ day. Lisia was well ahead of Arrasy at the Passage Rock but could do nothing to prevent Arrasy creeping up on her as they headed for the Les Bourdinots. Just thirty-nine seconds separated the two boats at the finish with Lisia holding her lead to beat her rival and win the race on corrected time. Arrasy was thus a very close second with Jack Rabbit third.

Having been warned of the fleet’s arrival, boats were greeted by marina staff as they entered the very new marina at St Cast and shepherded to allocated berths. The early start and relatively short time at sea allowed crews plenty of time to visit what is one of the most charming destinations on the Cote d’Armor.

The prize-giving was held in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club the following Tuesday when Commodore Sandra Carroll presented the place prizes.

Upcoming events, open to all-comers:

11 August – British Airways Round Jersey Race for keelboats and sport-catamarans;
31 August/1 September – Stonehage Channel Islands Hobie Cat Championships;
13 – 15 September UBS Jersey Regatta (www.jerseyregatta.com);

Pallot Glass and Windows results

Class 1 (IRC)
1 Chez Moi – Julian Barber (4.33.39)
2 Leapfrog – Roger Leonard (4.42.48)
3 Zanzibar – Alan Stevens (4.46.08)

Class 2 (NHC)
1Lisia – Mark Tucker (4.41.04)
2 Arrasy – Chris Deahl (4.41.37)
3 Jack Rabbit – Andrew Jelley and Mike Seguss (4.52.32)
4 Ocean Star – Trevor Beaton (4.55.12)