Walker Rock Race 2010

Finally, after postponements for a month due to light airs, the winds and race day coincided on March 21 for nine boats on the 17 mile course to Welbury spar (P), Walker Rock (P), Governor Rock (P), Welbury (S), and home. With S to SE winds from 5 to 15 knots, a clean start for the fleet was followed by the usual tacks up the harbor to the Sisters, and a reach to Captain Passage which got all boats through without delay against the ebb tide. Chutes blossomed from there to the Ballingall Islets, when the wind clocked forward and forced an early take down before rounding Walker Rock. The fleet began to spread out on the return leg, with JJ Flash deepening its lead and confident of line honours with miles to go. Fate decided otherwise, however, when JJ decided after all to pick up their man overboard instead of forging on, and as a result crossed the line neck and neck with Imp and two minutes behind single-handed Electra, with Oasis less than two minutes behind. They were followed by Fandango and Soul Thyme, who both finished in less than four hours of elapsed time in spite of shifting winds on the way up the harbour. Paramour, Empezar and Irie made it home in that order, with the lead in that group going to Empezar on corrected time – a lead not begrudged as Empezar provided welcome entertainment to the back of the fleet with several spinnaker near-broaches in Trincomali Channel. Congratulations to Roger for his win on the first day of spring, with nearly perfect sunny breaks and fair wind.

Philippe Erdmer on Paramour.