PB2004 on Red Alert by Stuart Macdonald

Petit Bateau 2004 leg 1

Just back from the first leg of PB2004 and still enjoying the memory, what a great event.

We gathered in Falmouth during the days before the start and enjoyed tremendous support from Mylor Yacht Club, who could not have been more helpful or friendly. Mylor is a little away from Falmouth by public transport, but only a few minutes by RIB, and Diana and Donald helped everyone out by running us around. The sun shone, and atmosphere amongst the competitors was great, and with such a lot of single handed expertise around there was plenty to talk about and some interesting boats to look at. Leon’s tri is a masterpiece, and reflects the four years of work that went into building it.

With good food available at the marina and such a welcoming club, Mylor could not have been bettered as a starting point.

The morning of the start was gloomy and windy, and the Club laid a good long line outside the harbour. Pre start countdown and organisation was well done and we all got away cleanly. I don’t know whether the Committee expected long distance sailors to be such competitive starters, and they may have been little surprised to find a bunch of us shaving the stern of the committee boat and hardening up right on the gun.

The wind eased down towards the Manacles, and by the Lizard, had all but gone. Some headed in, some stayed out, and not surprisingly the faster boats got lucky and picked up a new breeze to take them on a long starboard fetch to Lands End, where some went in close, some stayed right on out to Seven Stones, and the more conservative, like me, tacked at about the Wolf Rock.

By the evening the breeze had eased and we were heading about North West, close to the rhumb line.

Great night with lots of stars followed by a frustrating day, of relatively light, slow sailing. The wind was forecast to back, but where we were it decided not to and we sailed on through the day , finally getting a shift late and night and winding up running into the finish with the kite up. Red Alert arrived at the same time as a thundery downpour, closely followed by Tamarind.

More socialising in Kinsale, great atmosphere amongst the competitors and a couple of very sociable meals .

Kinsale is another great choice of stopover, lots of good places to eat and another very welcoming Club.

I was very sorry to have to come away, but at least we had enjoyed the first leg of what I am sure will become a very popular event.

Many thanks to everyone involved in the organisation and support, I take away good memories of good stopovers, friendly competition and a generally great atmosphere.

Sign me up for the next one now. I will definitely do the whole thing.

Stuart MacDonald.