Time 19:50 – Steffan Meyric Hughes
After the blazing sun of the lay day, when many took the ferry over to the island of Great Cumbrae for some downtime, and went walking or cycling around the island, today started with still waters and a solemn promise of a grey, windless day in Largs Bay, for the sixth day of racing. It seemed almost certain that there would be no sailing; but race officer David Kent and the team knew better, setting a short triangular course north of the wind shadow of Great Cumbrae, and moving the usual Largs SC start line up the coast to accommodate it.
Any thoughts that this might be racing for the sake of racing were soon dispelled, as the most exciting start of the regatta unfolded. Starting to windward Atlantic and Elena were thrillingly close on the same tack as they crossed the line in Class 1. Elena edged ahead, finishing the three-lap course about nine minutes ahead of her Class One rival, but Atlantic took it on corrected time by just seven seconds, meaning, with three bullets each, there is now a tie on points at the top of the class.
In Class Two, the big gaffers, Mariquita led the way, as she has in every race, executing a well-timed start and leading the two Moonbeams around the course, although ‘big Moonbeam’ - Moonbeam IV – was later given four points and an NSC for failing to sail through the start/finish line at the end of a lap. In terms of the regatta outcome, it was probably a moot point. Mariquita, which not only won her class, but beat one of the schooners on the water today, is now so far ahead of her two rivals on points that her destiny as overall winner in class is almost assured.
Sonny and Saskia, rivals at the head of Class Three, the small bermudans, had reached a tipping point today, as the regatta draws towards its end game. Saskia had to win today to remain in contention, and the two fought fiercely, swapping tacks for two hours, to finish just four minutes apart on elapsed and corrected time. On this short course, they nearly matched the schooners in average speed (VMG). Blazing Star came in later to round out the class. This means that, like Mariquita in Class Two, Sonny’s overall win in class is almost assured.
There was drama in Class Four, the little gaffers, as Patna passed the line 33 seconds early and earned herself four points for a DNS, allowing her rival of the week, Thalia, to take second place today, and creep one point ahead of Patna in the points total. Kismet, after a good start, stayed ahead in this class for the whole race. Kismet is now, with Mariquita, the only yacht to have won every race on elapsed and corrected time in the regatta to date, with Kismet the only entrant to have sailed every race.
As we move towards the end of this spectacular series, set upon some of the most beautiful waters in the world, the big rivalries are set to be played out in the biggest class, the schooners, where Elena and Atlantic are tied for the win; and in the smallest class, where Patna and Thalia are a separated by just a single point in the battle for second place.