Pursuit Race 2011 to 2019 - Bristol Channel Yacht Club

The Glorious BCYC Pursuit Race 2019

Well, after a postponement due to Mumbles having the highest winds in the UK on 10th August, the Pursuit Race eventually took place in glorious conditions on 25th August. Sailors (and race management team) were treated to blue skies, a flat sea and around 13 knots of wind – ideal conditions for the chase!

15 boats took place this year led off by, possibly, the oldest boat in the field, “Myhtos”, an Achilles 24 and, allegedly, the oldest combined age of the crew (if you exclude the boats with big crews) Paul Nicholson and Chris Osborne, hotly pursued by another Achilles 24 “Athene” crewed by Paul Knight and Emelye Trew.

An hour and 10 minutes later the fastest boat on the water, a Formula 18 catamaran helmed by Dave Charles, was the final boat to join the pursuit – and boy did he fly on some of the reaches!

The variety of boats on the water provided quite a spectacle especially when last year’s third placed sailor, Harry Pressdee, on an Aero7 was chasing down Independent Bear, a Corby 41.5.

The chase was keen with the lead changing frequently. However, once Oscar Chess and Will, on a Dart 18, took the lead, they looked invincible, quickly gaining and retaining a half leg lead over their nearest competitor. At the 15:00 finish Oscar and Will were the overall winners with Tim and Sue just holding off Colin and Alex, all Dart 18s, for 2nd place.

Harry Pressdee took the prize for 1st youth, finishing an impressive 5th overall and Independent Bear taking the honors for 1st cruiser.

The race was followed by the presentation in the BCYC clubhouse where sailors and volunteers were treated to a buffet and the chance to exchange tall tales.

This year’s event was very different to previous pursuit races. Thanks to some kind sponsorship there were cash prizes for the fleet winners. The race was also carried out in conjunction with Mumbles YC’s Gower Challenge regatta, with a race to Oxwich and back on the Saturday and Sunday’s pursuit results counting towards the competitors’ overall weekend ranking. The regatta winner was our very own Colin Jenkins ably supported by Alex and Chris.

Race officer, Alyson Nicholson said “Many thanks to all who helped in the success of this race: Karen and Guy on mark 1, Mike and Carl on mark 2, Mark and Carl on mark 3 with Anne and Martin joining me and doing a sterling job on the committee boat. And especially to the sponsor for his kind support of this event”

2018 BCYC Pursuit Race

The 2018 BCYC Pursuit Race ranks among one of the most successful for the club. 22 boats participated comprising 10 cruisers and 12 dinghies (8 monohulls and 4 catamarans) providing quite a spectacle – especially when a youth Topper is being chased by a 40-plus foot international racing machine!

Conditions made for competitive and enjoyable racing with glorious sunshine and wind at around 8 – 9 knots. However a lull towards the end favored the early starters.

Showing exceptional boat handling, the winners were Chris and Pippa on an RS200 from MYC, followed in 2nd place by Rhian Chase on a laser (intermediate race) and in 3rd (and hero of the day), young Harry Pressdee on a Topper. Harry was the only sailor who sailed for the full 2.5 hours and was still leading with less than 5 mins to go. He also beat his Dad who came 4th on an Aero. The handicap worked well with the first 3 boats changing places in the last couple of minutes and all 5 leading boats on the same leg!

First BCYC boat home, despite the race officer checking and checking and checking, oh, and checking again, was Paul Nicholson with Paul Hemsworth on the F18 catamaran.

The committee boat demonstrated girl power for the third year in succession with Rachel Ace and Anne Rees supporting Race Officer Alyson Nichoson. We had a plenty of safety support from club members and MYC, without whom the event couldn’t have taken place.

After the race we were treated to nibbles in the BCYC clubhouse and were joined by the crews of at least 3 yachts who made it over from SYSAC despite Saturday traffic. Congratulations, tall tales, banter and the woes of insufficient sunscreen were regaled alongside some enthusiastic re-hydration!

Colin, whilst sailing his Dart18, took lots of photos on the water and at the presentation. you can access these via the MYC website: http://mumblesyachtclub.co.uk/?menu=news&post=3326

2017 BCYC Pursuit Race – 15th July

The 2017 BCYC Pursuit Race took place on Saturday 15th July – on a not so typical summer’s day! 9 entries in challenging weather, poor visibility, rain and not a little wind – was not a race for the faint hearted.

The stiff breeze favoured the Dart fleet with Tony Rees and Jo Mullet taking full advantage, quickly asserting a commanding lead that they would never lose, making this their second consecutive Pursuit Race victory.

Once again, a thank you to the MYC and to Dai Thomas for providing safety cover. Also to Alyson Nicholson and Rachel Ace for running the race from the deck of Alyson’s Achilles 24, Myhtos – no mean feat given the conditions.

2016 BCYC Pursuit Race – 18th June

We stole a summer’s day for the race, conditions almost perfect with sunshine and a fairly consistent westerly 10kts breeze. Our Race committee consisting of Alyson Nicholson, Alison Alderman and Rachael Ace did a sterling job of timekeeping on the start line aboard Alyson’s Achilles 24, “Mythos”

12 boats entered, with 1^st Laser starting at 1540. The remaining boats consisted of a 420, two Ospreys, a Dart 15, four Dart 18s, and an F18 starting at 1645.

At the finish time of 1800 Tony Rees & Jo Mullett were way out in front, having sailed a faultless race, on the upwind leg of their 7^th lap, whilst all others were fairly closely spread along the final reach on their 6^th lap, other than the the F18, a lap down

1^st Tony Rees & Joanne Mullett – Dart 18

2^nd Tim & Sue Ley – Dart 18 – 1^st BCYC boat

3^rd Alistair Ramsden & Steve Ace – Osprey

Winners Tony and Jo with BCYC’s Steve Rees and Rce Officer Alyson Nicholson

2015 BCYC Pursuit Race – 27th June

Blue skies and 12 knots of breeze greeted the 12 entrants of this year’s pursuit race, comprising 4 Lasers, an RS Feva, an Enterprise, and 6 Dart 18s.

With fairly consistent wind-strength over the duration of the race, the Lasers had good speed in their early laps unlapping themselves from the Feva on just before completion of (their) Lap 2 and catching the Enterprise on Lap 3.

Whilst the Dart 18s unlapped themselves with times varying between 18’24s and 20’35s, there was a titanic battle at the front with Anthony Harvey leading Graham Porter for all but the last leg by a decreasing margin between 28s and 8s. But in a manoeuvre of genius, Graham as leeward boat, forced Anthony wide into an extra gybe on the penultimate leg (downwind) to take the lead for the final leg and start his 5^th lap 40 seconds before end of the race (EOR). Anthony crossed 9 seconds before EOR, approx 31 seconds behind Oscar & Niamh Chess finished in 3^rd just before starting their 5^th lap 50 metres behind Anthony (estimated at 19 seconds behind).

Oscar’s penultimate lap was a minute and 6 seconds faster than his last. The racing couldn’t have been closer.

2014 BCYC Pursuit Race – 8th June

Excellent turnout of 15 boats for the Pursuit race comprising 3 Lasers, a 505, an Enterprise, 7 Dart 18s, a Hobie Tiger, a Laser Stratos and an RS Feva. Alas both regular Achilles 24s were absent, as was Molly – last years 3^rd placed sportsboat.

With the forecast 10 knot breeze absent for 800m from the Knab, many entrants failed to make the mid-bay start line at their appointed start time. It was testament to the skill of the Race Committee of Alyson Dacey, assisted by Simon Jenkins that positioned the course in the only part of the Bay with decent wind.

Light airs was the real challenge, and for the second year in sucession (albeit with a different boat) Simon Brewer took the honours, by 300m over Anthony Harvey in his Laser, holding off Steve & Sam Ace in their Enterprise by a further 300 m.

All 3 boats were on the same down wind leg. Tony Rees was 1^st Dart 18 home, 100m behind the Enterprise.

Colin Jenkins was 1^st BCYC boat home, and presented with a trophy by Alex Ley that had originally been donated to the BCYC (and lost until recently) by his Great Granndfather.

2013 BCYC Pursuit Race – 15th October

There was a good turnout of 9 boats for the Pursuit race comprising Lasers, a B14, an Osprey, Dart 18s, a Cork 1720 and 2 Achilles 24s. With a threatening forecast the entrants dealt with increasing Force 3 to 5, with some stronger gusts that favoured the later starting faster boats.

With masterly planning skills the B14 helmed by Simon Brewer, crewed by Alistair Ramsden pulled away from the Osprey of Oscar Chess with special crew Greg Burgess to win by half a lap. Graham Porter skippered Molly, Cork 1720 into 3^rd place 1 lap behind the winner.

Thanks to all who dared challenge the forecast at the second attempt to run this year’s race, and Simon Brookes and Mumbles Yacht Club for the use of their ribs.