2019 Cross Channel Plate
The annual CYC Yacht Section Cross Channel Race took place on a Friday this year – the 24th May. This cunning plan came about to ensure that we got to our allocated space in Port Chantereyne Marina before a good proportion of all the yachts on England’s south coast got there first – a problem we have experienced in past years. As plans go, this one seemed to work well!
Unusually too this year, the Race was not held at the beginning of the RC’s Cruise, but David & Gill Roberts had planned a trip west for the following 2 weeks – before participants could arrive back in Cherbourg for this season’s RC’s Cruise.
On the 24th May, an early start was needed to make the best of the daylight hours to make the crossing. In the end, eight yachts made it past Bembridge Ledge Buoy – within an hour or two of 0630 BST – & thus qualified for the competition.
For those of you who have yet to try this, all the yachts register a start & finish time & if they use engine, a time & position for starting & stopping the motor. All this information is entered into a fiendish spreadsheet, the workings of which only Steve Cray knows; & it works out the results:
| Skipper | Boat Type | Boat Name | CYC 2019 Race Handicap | TOTAL ADJUSTED TIME | Percentage Sailed | Position |
| John Purslow | Westerly | Rascallion | 0.976 | 17:35:35 | 57.40% | 8 |
| Helen Jupp | Westerly Oceanquest | Dawn Chorus | 0.911 | 17:05:02 | 58.80% | 7 |
| David Burall | Najad 380 | Kerenza | 1.001 | 16:43:58 | 72.80% | 6 |
| Simon D’Arcy | Halberg Rassy 36 Mk2 | Uforia | 0.961 | 16:29:27 | 67.90% | 5 |
| John Lake | Etap 32S | Windreaver | 0.944 | 15:23:29 | 69.40% | 4 |
| David Roberts | Beneteau Oceanis 311 | Bugsy 2 | 0.968 | 14:54:41 | 67.80% | 3 |
| Gary O’Grady | Westerly Konsort | Katy | 0.877 | 14:24:06 | 95.90% | 2 |
| Stephen Cray | Feeling 39 | Crayzee Feeling | 0.937 | 13:47:09 | 88.70% | 1 |
Particular credit must go to Katy, who sailed an astonishing 96% of the way! .
If you think this “competitive cruising” may appeal, a much easier way to try it out would be to sign up for the Bramidge Trophy on the 7th September. There are spaces available, so please sign up – or contact me if you would like more information.
– by John Lake (jandklake@gmail.com or 07889927286)