Blue Pearl Shines in Race 1.

After the first race of the season, the Blackwater Cup, was postponed due to very high winds, the Smith Cup was won by Ian Ivermee and 'Blue Pearl', taking the cup by just 5 seconds from 'Waratah' who was second ahead of 'Grace and Danger'.

The race began with no wind at all, and nine boats from a fleet of fifteen were swept down by the tide and unable to get back to start, after engines had to be switched off. Three gave up, and the rest kedged for nearly two hours before the wind filled in and enabled them to start.

Geoff White’s ‘Waratah’ (BSC) helmed by Helena Richards, judged the start perfectly, with a very faint WSW wind barely filling her spinnaker, followed by Darcy Robarts’ ‘Grace and Danger’ (Marconi SC) making a welcome return to the BJRC with a new owner after some years absence. ‘Blue Pearl’ (Ian Ivermee, Marconi SC), ‘Diva’, ‘Triton’, and ‘Peak to Creek’, all BSC, also made the start.

The course was set to the North Eagle as the furthest point, and the returning leaders were approaching the Bench Head with still very little wind, now more southerly, when Race Officer Tommy Mills, who had sailed down in ‘Rocker’, shortened course by VHF, leaving out a loop back to the North Eagle. The late starters were approaching from up river, and ‘Waratah’ still held the lead on the water over on the Mersea shore. Around 1215 the wind started to build from the south west, and the faster boats pulled ahead on the beat back into the river, but there was no hope of the late comers getting into the game.

By the time ‘Peak to Creek’ crossed the finish line, after six hours and ten minutes, the wind was a cooling Force 4 to 5, and the final corrected positions saw the early starters in reverse order of their handicaps. ‘Blue Pearl’ beat ‘Waratah’ who was second ahead of ‘Grace and Danger’.

The faster boats, ‘Diva’, ‘Triton’, and ‘Peak to Creek’ finished in that order on corrected time and completed the 'on time' starters race. Still out on the course, and enjoying their own race within a race, were the late starters who'd been kedged some four hours earlier. This closely fought battle was won by ‘Easi Rider’, followed by ‘Atom’, ‘Sparkler’, and ‘Hornblower’.

But the day belonged to Ian Ivermee and the crew of Blue Pearl, who started their campaign scoring for the season with a bullet.

The full result can be found here.

Next race is the Maldon Cruiser Cup on the 10th June, 0830 start from Osea.

Guy Hawkins (editor admin)