Silva Prima 38 Autumn Cup at Island Sailing Club

The Silva Prima Autumn Cup was held over the 29th 30th September in the Solent and very ably run by Bob Milner and his team from the Island Sailing Club. Saturday saw the day start with lights wind so a short windward leeward course was set. With a short line and everybody keen to get a good start Oz Privateer was over early and had to turn back. Born Slippy made a good start at the committee boat end and soon tacked onto port and went up the right hand side of the course to come out at the wind ward mark first. On the run down Serendip and Firestorm went to the left side to emerge first and second at the leeward mark. Serendip held on to this lead to win the race but Firestorm got the second run wrong and slipped from second to last place.

The sun came out and the wind picked up to 12 –15 knots, a close race ensued on the windward leeward course, which was set for the second race. All the boats started cleanly and the lead changed hands several times with Firestorm restoring her honour by leading the fleet to the finish with Fat Diva in second place.

The last race of the day was set around fixed marks in the Solent with the finish off Cowes. The fleet got away with no start line dramas with once again Firestorm coming to the line in first place to head the scoreboard at the end of the first day. The tussle for second place between Serendip and Fat Diva came right down to the line with both boats trading tacks to the end. Serendip thought that she was in front enough to cross Fat Diva on port to finish but right on the line with much hailing Fat Diva had to take avoiding action to miss Serendip as she tacked on to starboard. Serendip took a percentage penalty as she conceded that she was in the wrong.

Day 2 of the Silva Prima Autumn Cup arrived with grey skies and plenty of wind. Bob Milner again set a windward leeward course and the Prima’s stormed off up wind towards the weather mark. Serendip had a problem with their spinnaker and mainsheet and had to retire from the race. With the boats flying down wind it was nip and tuck as to who would be victorious. Oz Privateer got the gun with Fat Diva close on his transom.

The last race was again set around fixed mark with the finish off Cowes with this time Born Slippy 2 taking the gun with Firestorm second and as in all the other races all the boats crossing the line in close proximity to one another showing that the Prima 38’s enjoy good close One Design racing.

Jim Deheer from Silva who sponsored the regatta presented the prizes at the Island Sailing Club with Firestorm, Jonathon Perry to be the first name on the Silva Prima Autumn Cup. The dates for next years Silva Prima Autumn Cup will be 28th – 29th September 2002.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Prima 38 Page