Westernman Cup Friday 27 May
Breaksea Rosebowl Sunday 29 May

PEGGY and MASCOTTE sailed the course for their first race of the season, with OLGA joining in for the next two matches of the series.  MARIAN sailed in the third race and it was great to see her in the Bristol Channel again.

A moderate northeasterly made a fair wind for the day with the course from Barry to the Mumbles, starting across the Yacht Club line at 1000.  MASCOTTE was first over the line 30 seconds after the signal with PEGGY close astern.  High water was 1010 and so a strong ebb was o be expected which would reduce the apparent strength of the following wind, so light weather gear was the order of the day.  MASCOTTE’s regular crew were joined by Karl Spierling who had arrived at Barry in the LEWIS ALEXANDER before the start of the race and now on his way to join OLGA at Swansea, so the large crew made short work of setting everything they could find in the sail locker.

A fine run down to the West Scarweather buoy on the starboard gybe with MASCOTTE just ahead of PEGGY, was followed by a close reach to the finish line between Mumbles light and the SWIGG buoy where MASCOTTE arrived at 1404 followed shortly afterwards by PEGGY.

Both cutters joined OLGA at the Maritime Museum pontoon at Swansea and a convivial evening ensued including a run ashore by all hands to sample the delights of a local restaurant.

Saturday’s forecast was for a gale-force southwesterly and it was considered caution was the better part of valour so when the wind duly materialised the fleet stayed put at Swansea for the day.  Sunday saw the wind fining away – in fact there was so little of it that the planned passage match back to Barry was abandoned and the three cutters motor-sailed in company through the Nash passage.  Tommi Nielsen demonstrated OLGA’s latest navigational aid [see potograph] and as this appeared to be far in advance of anything aboard any other vessel, OLGA was requested to lead the fleet through the difficult bits, making Nash point at high water.  As the ebb came away the westerly airs slowly strengthened and light weather sails could be set.  Swansea museum’s advertising banner made OLGA an excellent water sail and put us all into racing mood in the freshening wind.

By the time the fleet arrived at Barry at around 1500 conditions had improved considerably and we decided to sail a short course to the Breaksea lightvessel and back for the Breaksea Rosebowl.  Starting across the Yacht Club line, OLGA was first over at 1530 followed by PEGGY and then MASCOTTE.  OLGA’s start was impressive, sailing down the line and hauling her sheets as the start signal went – a performance she added to as the match progressed.

The close-hauled leg to the Breaksea in the fresh westerly was great sailing – OLGA was overhauled by PEGGY with MASCOTTE astern.

There was still a strong ebb tide setting us to the westward, and OLGA and PEGGY were further to windward than was necessary to make the mark.  To add to the fun a large bulkcarrier came steaming down channel and the two windward cutters had to take avoiding action, with PEGGY putting in a tack to clear the ship.  MASCOTTE slipped under the stern of the ship [a crew member from the Medway who shall be nameless gave the bulkcarrier a rendition of the old Strood waterman’s cry – unprintable on these dainty pages] and so MASCOTTE arrived at the mark with PEGGY to windward.  PEGGY gave MASCOTTE room in gentlemanly fashion and OLGA rounded between them – so the fleet were closely bunched for the reach back to Barry.

OLGA was determined to hang onto her lead over PEGGY and luffing was the order of the day.  While the two cutters were battling it out, MASCOTTE with the slowest boat speed today, was able to sail a more direct course to the finish.  PEGGY was further impeded by a ketch which seemed oblivious to the race taking place and got seriously in the way.  Now it was MASCOTTE’s turn to luff PEGGY forcing both boats well downtide of the course and allowing OLGA a fair course direct to the line.  It was now neck and neck between OLGA and MASCOTTE.  OLGA had the better boat speed and in desperation MASCOTTE’s crew dragged out the watersail and she picked up speed enough to finish 25 seconds ahead of OLGA at 1655 with PEGGY, surely the unluckiest boat that day, 10 seconds after her.

Only a couple of hours sailing on the Bristol Channel but it producedone of the best races ever – followed by a splendid crew’s supper in the Barry Yacht Club’s hospitable dining room – what more could anyone want?

Pilot’s Cup Monday 25 July

MARIAN, MASCOTTE, OLGA and PEGGY locked out of Cumberland Basin after the Bristol festival at 1000 and motored down the Avon.  By high water we had reached Avonmouth and found a moderate northerly breeze blowing.  The 1200 start for the third and last race of the Nielsen Cup series was an imaginary line between Portishead pier and the Firefly buoy, finishing at Barry.  MASCOTTE was first over the start line followed by OLGA, PEGGY and MARIAN.  Despite MASCOTTE’s crew running up the largest sails they could find she could not maintain her lead and PEGGY effortlessly worked her way through the fleet and took the lead above the English and Welsh grounds buoy.  With the moderate breeze off the north shore it was a very enjoyable reach down to Barry where PEGGY crossed the line to win at 1445 in fine style, once again demonstrating her superior boat speed.

Supper laid on by the Barry Yacht Club – to their usual high standard – was followed by Tim Pratt’s witty presentation of the Pilot’s Cup to Diccon Pridie.

So the series was narrowly won by MASCOTTE on the points system with PEGGY deserving better than her second place and OLGA the one to watch in 2006!

Reproduced courtesy of Mr A R Winter MASCOTTE