Preview PREVIEW A Corinthian cruise across the Channel

The fleet moors in St Peter Port pool A stunning group Cervantes IV and others converge on of classic cruising a mark in Start Bay yachts will sail to Brittany for a week of fun in the Classic Channel Regatta, says Peter Cumberlidge

n our frantic age of medals, Quayside music at Paimpol awards and intense competition, it’s a treat to join a highly sociable yacht regatta founded in true amateur spirit. Cricket Iwas once like this, the Olympics too, so the ‘gentlemen’s racing’ ethos of the Classic Channel Regatta is both Breton yachts with hardy Gallic crews Excalibur 36, plus a range of Holman pleasingly nostalgic and a breath of have tacked into Devon and Cornish or Holman and Pye favourites fresh air. harbours since the 1920s. Both including Twisters and early The 2017 races from Dartmouth regions have a sense of independence Bowmans. Tough Peter Brett Rivals to and Paimpol run from and a shared history of trading by sea, are popular in Class 3. There may be Saturday 8 to Friday 14 July. Brittany with or without excise duties. Each is Breton yachts from the 1950s and 60s, enthusiasts will spot that the finale renowned for their shipwright skills elegant cruiser-racers with similar Regatta's end at Lézardrieux marina in Paimpol on Bastille Day promises and enthusiasm for classic boats. lines to Illingworth or Buchanan. lively celebrations in the best Mutin has been the largest traditions of Entente Cordiale. Classics new and old participant, a famous French gaff- The fleet heads out into This regatta feels like a mini While the regatta celebrates genuine rigged fishing yawl with a straight the Channel. Janessa Voiles de St Tropez series but in old timers such as the sleek 1904 Alfred sheer, generous freeboard and flat chases in a perfect breeze more interesting waters. Its amiable Mylne cutter Kelpie, or the beautiful Breton stern. Built in 1927, she 'Franglais' atmosphere is familiar 1948 Sparkman and Stephens yawl was active in the Second World hereabouts because many West Argyll, it also welcomes many GRP War, ferrying SOE agents between Country owners look naturally to classics. You’ll see Nicholsons, Van England and Brittany. At over 100ft Brittany for summer cruising, while de Stadts like the Pioneer 10 and overall including a harbour-sweeping bowsprit, Mutin looks fantastically piratical with everything up. Pernez II under full canvas The regatta begins with two keen during a race off Dartmouth days racing off Dartmouth. Although this is my home turf, I can honestly say that Start Bay has one of the finest coastlines in Europe, a soothing panorama of neat Devon farms and scattered villages. Start Point juts out like a dragon’s tail before the land falls low behind a two-mile beach. Blackpool bay is fringed with pines like a slice of the Riviera. Add to this up to 100 classic racing yachts and you have a spectacle to remember. The pageant continues as the fleet sails into the River Dart for evening drinks at the Royal Dart Yacht Club and supper in Dartmouth’s market square. Exact courses for the cross- Channel races are set near the

36 www.yachtingmonthly.com JULY 2017 JULY 2017 www.yachtingmonthly.com 37 PREVIEW PREVIEW time when the weather shanty festival) in August The Trieux estuary leads to Lézardrieux shows its hand. The lower 2017. For the Channel and the event's final stopover handicap boats might Regatta, the cobbled quays approach St Peter Port east- will be packed with seafood about Guernsey via Platte stalls and supper will be jolly Fougère lighthouse, but the and protracted. faster yachts will be sent From Paimpol a delicate on a more circuitous route, channel steals north inside probably west-about Les acres of rocks, emerging off Hanois, the island’s rugged Île de Bréhat whose pink west tip. Both crossings granite shores are dotted are straightforward with Breton cottages. The navigationally, except that day race around Bréhat is a Guernsey’s north coast real bonus, where you can is rather rocky and tidal thread fascinating channels streams strengthen near the with local boats. This active . day finishes in the Trieux The 70-mile east-about River and the fleet gathers route skirts the Casquets for the night at Lézardrieux, TSS, but unless conditions a sleepy town three miles are seriously foul any ship- Kelpie rounds a cardinal beacon in the round Bréhat race upstream. The prize-giving dodging will be in daylight. and drinks are at the Yacht The bigger boats will sail more than 100 you feel the special vibes of North Club du Trieux, right on the quayside. miles and could be sent off to the Ore Brittany. To starboard there are On 14 July, France has its Fête Stone near Torquay, or the Eddystone rocks everywhere, not hostile fangs Nationale, the hallowed anniversary before heading for Guernsey. but friendly breakwaters, a maze of of the 1789 storming of the Bastille. St Peter Port is a great place to outcrops stretching towards Île de The regatta yachts will sail into finish, its jumbled town meandering Bréhat. To port the coast curves in Paimpol en masse to find the quays up from the waterfront. Not quite towards a buoyed fairway which, piled with fine victuals. At dusk, English, a little bit French, Guernsey’s above half-tide, leads across drying fireworks will light up the port. This ‘To starboard there are rocks capital looks exotic from seaward, mud to Paimpol entrance lock. should be a tremendous evening, with a halfway house towards Brittany. This attractive port has a colourful many a late dram around the harbour. everywhere, not hostile fangs The fleet will raft on the outer pool past. St Malo privateers once used it as Anyone who enjoys the Channel pontoons, with an evening reception a base for raids against British ships, Islands and Brittany will appreciate Classic owner David Dimbleby presents the main trophy but friendly breakwaters’ at Guernsey Yacht Club. while Paimpol bisquines sailed to this convivial, multi-stage regatta Chart: Maxine H eath The next stage is a 45-mile race the North Atlantic for cod fishing off which has pleasure in mind. Whatever Note: Exact down to the Anse de Paimpol, a long Newfoundland. What better setting for the weather, entrants will enjoy good courses are set nearer the time sheltered inlet with Paimpol harbour a gathering of classic yachts and their company and plenty of après-race How to enter the at its head. The course trends SSW, crews. Paimpol’s affable mayor and cheer. If you’ve never visited Paimpol ENGLAND passing about three miles east of indeed the whole town are generous or Bréhat, this Anglo-Breton event is Classic Channel Regatta Roches Douvres plateau and its tall hosts at salty events, including their an ideal way to sample these places The rules allow a catholic mix lighthouse. Entering Paimpol bay own Festival du Chant de Marin (sea with folk who know them well. W of entrants. Class 1 is for yachts designed before 1968, which are maintained to their original Torquay The numerous rocky Ore Stone design without any significant START R. Dart English Channel channels around Bréhat are changes. Class 2 yachts are Dartmouth Start Bay a pleasure to explore as per Class 1, but which have Start Dartmouth Eddystone to St Peter Port Falmouth Pt had significant changes made TSS to their original design or Casquets Alternative materials since 1968. course Replicas built to an original other than wood, aluminium design created before 1968 are or steel for spars, regardless of also eligible in Class 2. Class 3 year of design. Cherbourg Platte includes yachts built between There is also a Cruising Class Guernsey Fougère 1968 and 1974 as a one-off or for boats eligible for any of the St Peter Port Les Hanois in series production and yachts other classes but who prefer to designed before December cruise rather than race. 31st 1968 built in an industrial There are multiple prizes up Roches Douvres series, and at least 25 years for grabs across the different St Peter Port Race around Bréhat, to Paimpol old. Class 4 is for any yacht classes and legs, as well as the stopover in Lézardrieux. eligible in Classes 1-3 but with trophy for the overall winner Return to Paimpol Ile de Bréhat high-tech sails or any material of the Regatta. Lézardrieux Paimpol FINISH Entries: Classic Channel Regatta enquiries St Malo or entries to David Newman FRANCE Email: [email protected], Tel: +44 (0)7811 464748.

For more information visit www.classic-channel-regatta.eu 030nm

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