To keep the Race Committee at the finish aware of the progress of the race, selected yachts from each class were nominated to send reports as they passed the key headlands of Portland Bill and Start Point.

Jean-Philippe Chomette’s Prototype ‘Solune’ passed Portland Bill at 16:10 with the 2 Volvo 60s ‘Spirit’, Ross Daniel, and ‘Innovation K2’, Peter Hopps & Hilary Cook almost together at 16:32 & 16:35 respectively.

In IRC Zero Mike Greville’s DK 46 ‘Erivale’ reported passing Portland Bill at 16:48 with ‘Tonnerre de Breskens’ 15 minutes later at 17:03.  The IRC 1 yacht ‘Meta Baron’ reported passing Portland at 17:45 with Paul King’s Prima 38 ‘Serendip’ following at 18:00.

With the breeze holding at around 17kts from the south west, ‘Spirit’ rounded Start Point at 23:00 with ‘Solune’ approximately ¼ mile ahead.  ‘Innovation K2’ reported rounding at 23:53.  The boats had increased their lead on the following IRC Zero yachts who would round almost an hour later.

The Volvo 60 ‘Spirit’ took line honours at 0440 followed by ‘Solune’ 8 minutes later. 

After some close reaching in 25 knots of breeze the wind dropped and went patchy. ‘Tonnerre’, ‘Erivale’ and ‘Jazz’ who had been close racing all parked up for a while shortly before the finish. ‘Jazz’ grabbed the initiative as the breeze returned and was first away, finishing at 0828 followed by ‘Tonnerre de Breskens’ and ‘Erivale’. ‘Jazz’ won IRC Zero on corrected time with ‘Erivale’ second.  Having the Super Zero & Zero classes combined in the quest for prizes left ‘Jazz’ with points as winner in IRC Zero but without any silverware, the spoils going to ‘Spirit’ in the form of the Kenneth Mason Trophy.

Continuing in the way they started, ‘Meta Baron’ was the first to cross the line in IRC 1, finishing at 10:02, ‘Serendip’ following in class at 10:31 and R Lutener / P James / M Elwood’s Mills 36 ‘Cutting Edge’ 7 minutes later at 10:37.  The solid performance by ‘Meta Baron’ would be rewarded once the correction factor was applied, winning them the Bermuda Yacht Club Trophy for IRC 1 and the Joliette Trophy for Best Corrected Time in IRC.

‘Arcsine’, Kathy Claydon’s Arcona 370 lead the IRC 2 fleet home, finishing at 12:26, with ‘Extasy’, Russell Curry’s X 332 at 12:49.  ‘Winsome’, the lowest rated boat in class 2 finished 3rd at 12:59 and won the Greenville Collins Salver for IRC 2 on corrected time, ahead of ‘Extasy’ second and ‘Arcsine’ third.

The French yacht ‘Arobase 3’, Thierry LePrince’s First 31.7 took line honours in IRC 3 at 15:10 ahead of a ding-dong battle between Chris Burbidge’s J 32 ‘Domaine’ and Keith Gibbs’ Alpha 36 ‘ Farthing’.  ‘Domaine’ won the battle on the water by 21 seconds, however the lower rated ‘Farthing’ came off the better on corrected taking second place behind ‘Arobase’ who takes home the John Illingworth Trophy for IRC 3.

IRM was won by ‘Minnie The Moocher’, muscling out ‘Tonnerre’ on corrected time by 6 minutes, lifting the Rear Commodores’ Trophy.

Four yachts were competing in the 2 Handed Division, the RORC Prize going to ‘El Greco’, John Williamson’s Sigma 38.

Acting for some as a feeder race for the RORC Cascais Race, which starts from Falmouth on Wednesday 18th August at 10:00, all the yachts were welcomed by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, where the Falmouth Race prizegiving took place on the Monday evening followed by a Bar-be-que.  The RORC would like to gratefully thank the Commodore of the RCYC, Mr Colin Drummond for the hospitality shown by the club, and for the welcomed assistance of Peter Maddock, John Heath, Ron Dean and Tom Hamon who selflessly volunteered to work watches at Pendennis Head with the RORC finish line team.