With the advance forecast predicting gusts of 40 knots, a hardy contingent took to the water for Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club’s first race of the spring series last weekend. 

Race officer and new dinghy secretary Steve Roberts set a course down river to St John, across to West Mud and back up past the club house to Ferry. 

At the start, the wind was only registering around 20-25 knots but the competing boats seemed very reluctant to be at the forefront with each boat at least 15 seconds late crossing the start line.

Ronnie Carter and Alex Smerdon in the Laser 2000 were the first boat over the start line and led for the entire race.  Noah Reese (Laser Radial) and Jack Mann and Ron Goggin (Wanderer) battled it out throughout for second and third places with Mann and Goggin rounding the first mark – St John – in second place with Reese in third. 

However, the fine reach to West Mud saw the Laser overtake the Wanderer with ease but at the gybe mark the two boats swapped places again. 

Carter and Smerdon were well out of reach at this point and heading for the second lap with no real competition. 

Reese reached Ferry mark ahead of Mann and Goggin and headed towards St John on the upwind leg.

The wind had started to increase and it took its toll on Reese who capsized at least twice before rounding St John for the second time. 

Mann and Goggin had overtaken Reese at this point but Reese overtook Mann and Goggin again on the reach to West Mud. 

At the same point, Carter and Smerdon capsized with their spinnaker up heading back to Ferry from West Mud. 

They managed to right their boat and continued without further incident.

Due to the strengthening in the winds the race officer decided to shorten the course and Carter and Smerdon took line honours and first place on corrected time. 

The second  and third boats were still battling it out.

Eventually Reese took second on the line but Mann and Goggin took second place on corrected time by about 45 seconds.

Although challenging conditions at times, the racing was fun thanks to the volunteer safety boat crews and race management team. 

RESULTS

1 Ronnie Carter and Alex Smerdon (Laser 2000) 2 Jack Mann and Ron Goggin (Wanderer) 3 Noah Reese (Laser Radial)