June Cup 2025 at Porthpean Sailing Club

June Cup at Porthpean © Stacey Bray

Mention the words "Cup Race" at Porthpean and the wind gods turn up the speed controller, sit back on to their cloud and ready themselves for some first class entertainment.

A trapezoid course greeted the racers in a lovely 18 knot WSW breeze.

Race 1 started with the fleet splitting with some boats heading in shore, the usual suspects arrived first at the windward mark with Jeremy & Suzanne Hawkins being chased by Alan Harris in his Blaze and our visitors Matt Johnston & Amelia Burnett. The slow fleet was led initially by Shaun Welsh in his Supernova with the ever consistent Geoff Holden and Sean Biggs in hot pursuit.

June Cup at Porthpean - photo © Stacey Bray

Further back in the fast fleet there were some real battles being contested with a gaggle of Tasars contesting for the remaining places at the sharp end. In the slow fleet Welsh had dropped back allowing Holden to sail to victory followed by Biggs and Paul Sanders in his RS Aero. The fast fleet saw Harris take the win from Hawkins with Johnston & Burnett taking third.

Race 2 and the wind had cranked up to 20 knots, the wind gods were tucking into their popcorn as the fleet headed up the first windward leg. Team Hawkins lead the fleet with Harris, Johnston & Burnett and Alex Royle & Steve Coello chasing them down the first reach. The slow fleet was an on the water battle with Holden & Sanders with the now reduced fleet. Andrew Kendall and Biggs were not far behind.

June Cup at Porthpean - photo © Stacey Bray

The run saw a rare capsize for the Hawkins which resulted in a broken whisker pole and allowed Harris, and the two Tasars of Johnston & Royle to benefit. Harris finished first on the water with Johnston & Burnett second followed by the rapidly improving Royle & Coello. In the slow fleet Holden had got the better of Sanders with Andrew Kendall finishing in third.

The final race of the day saw the sun appear, there were some tired bodies out there although the remaining boats were determined to finish on a high.

June Cup at Porthpean - photo © Stacey Bray

After the disappointment of race 2 the Hawkins had the bit between their teeth and galloped away to take a large lead from Johnston & Burnett. The slow fleet saw Holden again showing that he was made of tough stuff, Sanders capsized on the run allowing Holden to take the win and the June Cup.

Meanwhile in the fast fleet, the Hawkins won unchallenged with Johnston & Burnett finishing second after a very consistent series. The battle for third was incredibly close with Charlie Nunn & Pete Keilbart eventually taking third from Paddy Seyler & Sarah Desjonqueres.

June Cup at Porthpean - photo © Stacey Bray

This was great preparation for some of our Tasar fleet that'll be taking themselves off to Garda for their World Championship. Thanks must go as usual to our wonderful club volunteers.

Normal club sailing resumes on Wednesday with the club looking forward to hosting a Blaze & Solo Open on the 5th/6th July.

Fast Fleet Results:

June Cup at Porthpean - photo © Stacey Bray

Slow Fleet Results:

June Cup at Porthpean - photo © Stacey Bray