Champagne Challenge 2016

Last year my friend and I motored up to Brixham marina's event pontoon at dusk and to a round of applause. We'd finished the 2015 Champagne Challenge a hour or more after the other boats. This year I was keen to try again, and with a nice north-westerly forecast, it looked good.

I was a bit short of crew. My normal helpers were both away, and I'd all but given up. Then I thought I could take my 11 year old son Charles. He'd be able to keep up going in approximately the right direction while I messed about with sails?

After a few essential jobs on the mooring and rigging the my new spinnaker guys we motored out to the start. The Champagne Challenge is a fun cruiser race from Exmouth to Brixham orgainised by Exe Sailing Club. Two classes, club and fast, were set to start and 11:00 and 11:30 respectively. With around 45 boats entered and other clubs on the water, it was all a bit stressful. The start was hopeless with the 5 minute call ending in the word "GO" which confused most. I didn't hear much else and wasn't watching the flag as I was busy avoiding other boats.

It was soon clear that we were off. We got over the line about half way down the field. As soon as I sheeted the main, a big gust drove the boat hard with the port hull pressed down as we hit 8knts+. I was a bit concerned that it might be all a bit too much to handle largely on my own. But soon enough we were reaching down the first leg and making ground on all but the lead boats. These led by Rory McDougall in Cookie, who seemed to disappear as if powered by a different wind.

We did well, but lost time a places on the first downwind leg as I messed with the spinnaker. The next reach was fast and fun and the final run had the spinnaker set in the middle as I'd planned.

A great day.

Cooking Fat, Gratitude & SCAT in Cat Corner

Charles is ready for bed