The first regatta of the brand new Senior Summer Series was hosted by Mounts Bay Gig Club on the 8th of June.
The event brought together a mix of excitement and anticipation for those taking part in the very first regatta of the league. Over 550 rowers enjoyed for a day of racing on the water and catching up with friends on the shore.
Photo credit: Aerial Cornwall
Excellent weather conditions provided an ideal setting for competitive racing. The picturesque backdrop of St Michael’s Mount made the event particularly special for the competitors and spectators alike.
The event began with a seeding race for both categories. The course, approximately 3km long, started near Penzance and finished just before the Mount. The results of the Seeding Race determined the heats for the next round which took place later in the day.
One of the largest mainland start lines to date, the Women’s Seeding Race was an impressive sight.
Event Organiser, Jo Cottam-Dunk from Mounts Bay Gig Club described the scene, “When the first open seeding race came into focus accompanied by the lifeboat, it was an amazing sight for all and something that had not been seen on this scale in the bay before. We are already excited about next year!”
Photo credit: Aerial Cornwall
In the Open Seeding Race, Appledore were first across the start line, shaking things up and beating the likes of Falmouth, Looe, and Caradon. In the Women’s category, the absence of Fowey left the competition wide open. Caradon and Helford stretched out an impressive lead going head to head in the Bay. Despite a considerable lead over the rest of the field, coxswains facilitated some extremely close racing, leading to some clashing of oars.
Photo credit: Aerial Cornwall
The use of heats in the second round allowed crews of similar speeds to compete against each other, resulting in tightly contested races. In the Points Races Crews were tasked to race a triangular course which featured a challenging buoy turn, testing the skills of rowers and coxswains.
Recent changes in the CPGA Racing Rules has highlighted the importance of coxswains boat handling skills around the buoy turns. A significant number of the top 12 crews adhered to tradition, tossing their bow oars to achieve a more efficient turn!
Throughout the event, close racing kept spectators on the edge of their seats, showcasing the high level of competition among the crews. You can revisit all of the racing on our Facebook page.
Photo credit: Colin Higgs
A highlight of the day was the participation of numerous new umpires who had recently completed the new CPGA Race Official training sessions, which have been introduced to ensure fair and well-managed races.
The final results were:
Open:
- Falmouth
- Looe
- Caradon
Women’s:
- Caradon
- Helford
- Falmouth
The day concluded with a lively party at the gig shed, with music continuing late into the night. A huge congratulations to Mounts Bay Gig Club for hosting such a great event.
Jo Cottam-Dunk explained, “When the CPGA approached us with the proposal to host the first of the Senior Summer Series we were excited and nervous in equal measures due to the potential scale of the event compared to our usual regatta and the timescale we had to work with. With the support of St Aubyn’s Estate, Marazion Town Council and Mount’s Bay Sailing Club, as well as our own dedicated event organising committee we were proud to be part of this new event.”
The next regatta of the league will be hosted by Mevagissey Rowing Club at Pentewan Sands this weekend (22nd June). 39 gigs will take to the start line and compete in three rounds of straight line racing to establish their position on the points table.
We are really excited to follow the Senior Summer Series and will keep you updated as the league develops.
See you at the next one!
Senior Summer Series – Women’s Points
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