Christmas Cracker Pursuit Race at Paignton Sailing Club
by Nick Ripley 10 Dec 04:36 GMT
1 December 2024
Sunday 1st December saw the 8th running of the Christmas Cracker Pursuit Race at Paignton Sailing Club, part of the Sailing Southwest Winter Series.
In the days leading up to the event, all eyes were on the forecast following the cancellation of the Starcross Steamer the week before due to Storm Bert. The pre-event briefing was all about reefing Toppers and smaller rig options for the Aeros, Blazes and ILCAs so it was a bit of a surprise to all sailing out to the start area in 8 to 10 knots of wind.
As always in pursuit races, the youngsters in the Toppers have to sail for the whole duration of the race, so at 11.30 the two Toppers started their marathon sail followed 14 minutes later by the sole RS Feva in the event by which time the wind was building steadily towards the 20 knots+ which had been forecasted. By 12.20 the bulk of the 26 boats had started with just 3 Fireballs, a B14 and an RS800 still to start.
By the time the RS800 had started, Martina Vasili was well into her 2nd lap, relieved that she had heeded the warning and put in a reef. By the start of the third lap, Ben Flower had taken the lead in his ILCA 7 from Zak Mitchell in an Aero 5, Ben Fuller in an ILCA 6 and the two Aero 6's of David Stockton and Luca Mitchell all passing Martina in her Topper.
By the start of the 4th lap, the first four were still the same, with Greg Bartlett in the Aero 7 up to 5th, but the three Fireballs and Blaze were catching fast and by the 6th lap the Willcocks brothers James and Anthony were up to 3rd ahead of Simon Lomas-Clarke and Rob Daniels.
At the start of lap 7, James and Anthony had caught Zak to take 2nd, the chase was on, could they catch Ben at the front. As the clock ticked down to the finish at 14.00, Ben was just too quick, and held off the Willcocks brothers. Simon and Rob in the second Fireball, recovered from an earlier capsize and took third from Zak in the Aero 5 and Greg in the Aero 7 and still going, in 13th place, Martina in her Topper, still going and taking the prize for first youth.