14 Squibs competed in the inaugural Great Circle Race in good light winds on Saturday 11 October.   As the name implies the trophy race has a fixed course which involves sailing around the marks in the Bay in a large circle.  After a small windward beat from the Committee boat, marks O,T,F,M,K,B,C and H are to be rounded to port.  The course is completed by rounding a set leeward mark and finishing at the Committee boat.  The race is also part of the Squib Saturday 4 series.   The Squibs enjoyed sunny and light conditions requiring great concentration.  The race was won by Saskia helmed by Mark Bugler with Hussy in second place and Magaroo in third.  The trophy made from ripple sycamore and black walnut was crafted by John Thomson.

An amendment to Sailing Instructions issued this weekend allows Race Officers to change the course after the first round in the event of a change in wind direction.  Race Officer Kenny Roebuck took the opportunity, as the wind direction shifted, to use the new ruling during the Sunday 12 October race and changed the windward and the leeward mark for the second round.  Despite some reservations the fleet coped well with the new instructions.  19 Squibs, 15 PY yachts and 15 IRC yachts sailed in sunny, warm conditions. 

To give the Race Team  an option to change the course if they suspect there will be a significant wind shift during a race a new mark will be defined.  See the document for details.

  Autumn-Winter Series Amendment 1

In a brief window between SW and Easterly gales, I hopped off to Cherbourg in Pippa for essential supplies - flat calm on the way over, having met with about 8 dolphins at dusk just before the shipping lanes, and, after a busy evening negotiating these, arriving at 1 am to find a very empty marina! One day ashore and an early night on New Year's Eve. to be woken by sirens (not that kind) at 11pm, and then left at 0330 to be up with the shipping at first light - a pleasant if slightly chilly day motor-sailing home in time for Kay and Kevin's New Year Party.

Photo: Pippa crosses the shipping lanes.
 
Steve Fraser

It’s a big adventure, especially if it’s your first trip – Marquesa to Brixham, Pippa round the islands in Poole Harbour – and you wonder what you might be able to achieve next time. With the average cruiser these days well equipped to cross the Channel, and lots more, what’s to stop you?  Following last winter’s ‘Brittany Evening’ the crew of Phoebe decided to head that way in company with Pippa., and are here seen arriving at le Taureau in the mouth of the Jaudy river, on the way up to Tréguier, having visited Cherbourg and Guernsey.  In spite of the discouraging weather, a number of Brittany trips were made this year, with the J fleet well represented by Saskia VI and Mojo; we also met up with Tom Thumb in St Peter Port – Peter Rayner is a regular visitor on his way down through the canals. Excalibur and Pippa made their way down to the Golfe of Morbihan and found some reasonable weather, French friends and very drinkable wine!  We met David and Lorna Price in Port-Haliguen, Quiberon, on their way back from Spain – as was Feanor when she met up with Kay and Kevin Stibbs in Camaret., with Jeremy Parkinson as ever leading the way over the far horizon!  

Don’t miss Jeremy’s talk on cruising to Spain, or the Brittany evening, in this year’s winter Calendar…