Falmouth Classics 2022
(Report by RP - Pics RP, AP, IZM, PW, Classics website)
Two Morbic sailors joined the famous Falmouth Classics in June and came away with two prizes.
PW and RP entered Proteus, their sloop/lug Morbic 12, for the regatta, which is three days of racing, parades and onshore events, attracting 60,000 spectators. There were 175 entries including a brigantine, a topsail schooner, luggers, gaffers, pilot cutters, down to a 12 foot dinghy; they dated from 1881 to a boat built during lockdown in 2020... and that dinghy, the newest and smallest boat in the fleet was, of course, Proteus, built by Paul and Robin during the pandemic.
There were two races on the Friday in superb weather, with Proteus completing both in sunshine and a wonderful sailing breeze.
On Saturday gales struck and the small boat class was cancelled, as were onshore events when the marina was closed to spectators because of the strong winds
Sunday was parade day, grey and cloudy with a force 5-6 northerly still blowing.
The big parade went almost out to sea and many of the smaller boats did not turn up... but Proteus did, receiving many accolades from the judges and VIPs as she followed the larger boats round Black Rock and back into the inner harbour with spectators watching from the cliffs.
The small boat parade was due in the afternoon, and it is fair to say the entry was not large with many boats having given up. The idea was to sail a figure of eight course within sight of spectators on the quayside at Falmouth and Proteus duly turned up to put on a show.
Come the prize-giving held in the wonderful National Maritime Museum, and Proteus won twice... an engraved whisky glass and a bottle of champagne for coming second in class in the races and best-handled boat in the small boat parade.
She may not be the fastest boat but she is known for perseverance, and has even won a prize for it at Reading Sailing Club!
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