Read indepth magazine
The Third Day of the Pendennis Cup
After two days of high tension racing in the Pendennis Cup, the results of day three’s race have now emerged, with the fourth exciting race taking place today.
With the weather conditions holding firm, the yachts were determined to use the strong winds to their full advantage. On Wednesday all yachts had a day’s rest from sailing during which all boats underwent maintenance, including fixing Adela’s 1 ton spinnaker which was split of Tuesday and repairing the damaged mainsail.
30 seconds to the start Mariette was sailing windward of Adela towards the line with Mariquita and Velacarina a little off the pace. The course was set to the northerly wind direction with a beat towards Gyllngvase Beach area as the first leg. Mariette was set with the Jackyard in place and Mariquita with her working topsail.
Mariette tacked towards the east coastline looking for an inshore advantage and Adela stayed offshore heading towards the Helford before tacking back to the mark near Gyllngvase Beach. Mariquita was blocked by Velacarina at the start but after the first tack and cross over Mariquita had taken the third place position and passed the stern of Mariette. Adela had a good lift approaching the Helford and then rounded the mark first ahead of the rest of the fleet. Mariette was second round with Mariquita close behind doing well in the lighter breeze.
Mariette and Mariquita stayed very close on the leg to the Range A Mark with Velacarina just behind and Adela out in front rounding 10 minutes ahead. She would need to increase this lead significantly to win on handicap.
The yachts sailed close hauled towards the Veryan mark passed Dodman Point with the wind increasing above 20mph. Mariette was able to capitalise on the breeze and pulled away from Mariquita and Velacarina. Mariette missed the lay line for the mark and had to put in an additional tack allowing Mariquita to gain ground and for Adela to extend her lead who judged the strong tide well.
The sun came out for the approach to the finish, the line set between the mouth of the Helford and the Manacles. Adela had increased her lead and was over the line just under thirty minutes ahead of Mariette, enough to secure her second victory in the regatta ahead of Mariette, Mariquita and Velacarina.
Pinuccia sailed the course on her own today with Tomahawk in the final throws of her mast repair at Pendennis Shipyard.