Just when you thought the season was over, it was a re-sail, and at the rear end of the season it was the Rear Commodore’s Cup, saluting Jos Colvin. Abandoned mid-race through lack of wind on Opening Day way back in early October, the Commodore’s Cup found its way back into the calendar courtesy of a redundant spare race day set aside for precisely such an abandonment.

The forecast proved pretty accurate with a slow build-up to about 15 knots from the SW right at start-time, 1300 for the five yachts in division 3. The course (Q1) provided a great blend of upwind and off the wind sailing with the first leg a beat south to Foam. A kite reach to Sorrento which tested short-handed crews in divisions 1 and 2 was followed by a beat south again to Anchor then a kite run to Marina, a tight reach to Little and the run to the finish line provided another opportunity to launch the spinnaker.

So keen to be first to start in division 1, two of the four yachts broke (OCS) and were required to re-start letting Whispering Jack (Bruce Bradford) get away with the other three yachts only appearing in his Rear vision. It wasn’t enough though for the back-marker finishing third on handicap behind Perle and the winner, Sophia (Bruce Utting).

In division 2 three yachts pressed hard for pole position against the groyne for the start only to be out-foxed by Volant (Emille Janssen, Frank Hagemann, John Ball and Kevin Meta) keeping clear and was first to start. On board Pinta was plenty of offshore experience which came in handy in the strong wind and lumpy sea. Using the spinnaker to good effect, Pinta finished second and first on handicap giving Ray Murphy two consecutive trophy wins. What a finish to his inaugural season as skipper. Mark Taylor’s Helga was second and third-placed Blue Chip (Keith and Deborah Fisk) improved after their outing last week with fastest time around the course.

Less than a minute separated the first 3 yachts crossing the finish line in division three. Vaya Con Dios (Chris Blackney) received the hooter but was second on handicap, Mimosa (Tony Brooke) was second over the line however was third and Resolute (Damian and Kerry Martin) was next to finish but won, albeit by a mere 11 seconds.

John Bird