Porquerolles Classic 2018

The stunning island of Porquerolles played host to the 2018 Classic Yacht Regatta. 47 boats gathered from around the Mediterranean including the much favoured Cippino from Argentina, Jour de Fete from France, Fjord III from Argentina and Argyll and Skylark from the UK.

Race 1 was a 14 mile clockwise tour of Porquerolles Island. Skylark had an excellent start and lead the fleet around the 1st quarter of the island until the lighter and larger boats slowly overtook her in the light breeze. A long spinnaker run down the southern side of the island favoured Skylark and she finished the race in a respectable 3rd position behind Cippino and Jour de Fete.

Race 2 was started in a building westerly breeze and Skylark again had an excellent start, crossing the line on port at the pin end of the line. Despite a large swell and light wind she performed excellently on the first legs of the course staying on touch with the top yachts sporting professional crews. After a long spinnaker run and, in a building breeze, Skylark rounded the last mark alongside the leaders. However, Skylark had chosen on the run to switch to a smaller heavier head sail and this proved to be a mistake as she was under powered on the long beat home. By the finish Skylark had slipped to 3rd place being beaten by Cippino and Fjord, owned and sailed by famous Argentinian naval architect German Frers. This still placed Skylark in a joint 2nd Overall along with Fjord and Jour de Fete.

Race 3 of 3 was exciting to say the least. It was a reaching start on starboard and Skylark successfully threaded her way in and out of the boats jostling before the start to cross the line on the gun at full speed. After performing well to the first mark, latterly under spinnaker, the yachts gybed and headed for the centre of the bay to the 2nd mark some 5 miles away. The leading boats were caught with little wind allowing the boats behind to sail in a big loop around them. Skylark’s owner had spotted this opportunity early but his tactician, The Headmaster, did not want to split from covering the top boats. Consequently as the breeze dropped the boats at the back of the fleet took the lead. Once the breeze did fill in it was too late for Skylark to catch the leaders.