Time 20:16 – by Steffan Meyric Hughes
The heatwave that has brought England half to a standstill has been spreading north, and the torpor in the heavens was felt today at Largs SC, race HQ for the Richard Mille Cup. Like the last couple of days, it was a question of hoisting the AP flag, with the fleet tenders – 'the Targas' – going out to seek breeze-ruffled waters. The forecast for the day, Day 8 of racing, was for the light airs to increase to around 7mph. As yesterday demonstrated, in beautiful sunlight, this is enough – just – for the fleet to get going. North of Cumbrae, the only movement in the water was the glassy swells left behind by other traffic on the water.
With most classes already won, or near as dammit, the challenge today was between Atlantic and Elena, with Atlantic on 10 points, Elena on 11, meaning either a win or a draw for Atlantic. Bigger than that is the fight for the overall win – the Richard Mille Cup itself. The best-scoring boats throughout the regatta have been Sonny (Class Three) and Kismet (Class Four). After Kismet's anomalous last place yesterday, her crew were no doubt keen to avoid sailing into another wind hole.
At noon, the air movement from the southwest veered to the west and filled in, darkening the waters north of Cumbrae. A triangular course was set for all classes, in the knowledge that in these light airs, classes would be competitive with one another.
In Class One, Elena executed a perfect start, pulling hard over the line just seconds after the signal. Atlantic was not too far behind but not powered up yet. In Class Two, Mariquita narrowly led Moonbeam across the line in a close start.
In Class Three, Sonny and Saskia got involved in close manoeuvres to windward while Blazing Star, mizzen sail down, quietly slipped across the line.
There were no surprises in Class Four. Kismet, scalded by yesterday's third place, stormed away from her class, leaving Patna and Thalia far behind in her wake.
And so began the first beat on the last day of the event. As Elena extended her lead over Atlantic, the duel continued between Saskia and Sonny, the former finding her feet in these light, flat conditions. Meanwhile, the gaffers in Class Two were closely bunched, with Mariquita narrowly leading and the Moonbeams swapping places behind her.
On the first downwind leg, Kismet poled out the symmetric and made straight for the mark. Sonny, behind, put an asymmetric and elected to tack downwind for greater boat speed, but more distance to the next mark, heading towards Cumbrae. Sonny got near to the mark, only to leave herself a beat to it in dying wind. Saskia inched ever closer.
The course was shortened at 2.17, leaving just the short reach home to the northern tip of Greater Cumbrae. Elena crossed the line at 2.29, first boat in; her lead over Atlantic was enough to give her the win, resulting in a tie overall in Class 1 that Elena won on countback.
Today was a day when class order prevailed, and next in were Class Two, the big gaffers. Here again the order was predictable with Mariquita taking the win, despite Moonbeam's creditable showing during the first leg. It is Mariquita though, that has led for most of this regatta, that she takes the overall win in class.
What followed was the tightest group finish of the regatta. Sonny in Class Three led the charge, 40 minutes behind the big gaffers, after having extended her lead over Saskia on the last leg, in real and corrected time, to win the day; and, in her class, the regatta. Saskia came in soon after, with Class Four Kismet finishing just 15 seconds behind.
Then it was Thalia (Class Four) hotly pursued by Patna, flying a water sail under her boom. Blazing Star was in next with Patna just 30 seconds later to round out an amazing finish. Sonny motored back past the committee boat to give them three cheers, no doubt in the near certainty that they had won the race, and the regatta in class.
The only question remaining is: who is going to be crowned overall winner of the regatta, and recipient of the Richard Mille Cup, tomorrow?
