2024 Report
The deck refit completed we turned our attention to the return voyage to the Mediterranean. We had commitments in the Balearics, Mallorca specifically on the 9th of August with a 10 day cruise. We swung the compass on the morning of the 10th of July in the Flensburg Fjord off Robbe and Berling yard, drop the compass adjusters and set off for Palma, we had one month to get there, certainly easily achievable however straight out of the yard there was plenty of potential for surprises along the way!
Our delivery crew had arrived the previous week to help with final preparations. It was great to welcome back Ez and Toby, to join Jean Michel, Louis and the rest of the permanent crew.
As is the way, those head winds which had hindered our trip north swung on each new course to again be headwinds on our return voyage…. Though headwinds they were light, and we made good progress, a well timed south westerly gale forced us into Margate at the eastern extremity of the Thames estuary, just before entering the English Channel. A good excuse to visit our old engineer Will and his family who live nearby. Cambria had last been in Margate racing in the 1932 season. Twenty-four hours later we raised anchor and headed for Dartmouth another of the Big Class racing destinations back in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The home of the English Royal Naval College, Dartmouth is an incredibly beautiful destination, and very handy refuelling station, located at the mouth of the river Dart. We took a fore and aft mooring for the evening and picked up Margie for the two legs of the voyage. Next stop Falmouth. The fog arrived the following afternoon and seamed to stay with us for a lot of the Atlantic leg. Falmouth again is a wonderful last port before the Biscay. Great to see family, friends and pick up last spares and victuals. The sou’westerly weather pattern also settled and though the first night was boisterous it soon settled into a calm crossing. Sadly, the Northerly winds never eventuated but the landing of a good-sized tuna as we approached the shelf off Finisterre brought smiles all-round. The constant yacht chat regarding curious Orcas, also had us on the lookout, but sadly none were sighted. However, when Dave dove to check on a prop issue just to the east of the shipping lane west of Oporto, Portugal, it was certainly at the forefront of our minds…..
The Port prop had managed to ease itself off the boss and we needed to call into Cascais to effect repairs. We limped into the Cascais anchorage using the starboard propeller only, of course still no favourable north easterly trades and still the lingering fog.
With the port prop torqued up, we refuelled and set off for Palma. With logistical issues of preparing for the remainder of our season, which involved two cruises in the Balearics then into the Puig Classica in Barcelona running alongside the Americas Cup challenge series, Dave jumped ship in Malaga to help with collecting gear from our storage in Antibes and transporting it to us in Palma. We made it to Palma on the 4th of August; Dave and George (shoreside support) arrived with a van full of gear on the morning of the 6th. We were now ready for Leo and mates to join us for a relaxing 10 days around the Mallorcian coast. The trip was fantastic with plenty of time enjoying great company on the water. the most memorable moment being a particularly nasty thunderstorm, which though forecast, arrived with extra punch. A number of yachts were caught out in Formentera, sadly ending up on the beach. The same cell made its way across to Sicily creating more destruction and sinking the Perini SY Bayesian. Fortunately for us, Cambria had plenty of sea room to ride it out and three hours later we stopped midway down the east coast of Mallorca for a drifting swim; incomplete contrast to the 65-knot hailstorm we’d previously encountered.
Following Leo’s trip we had another seven day cruise with another family member around Mallorca. The weather was much more stable allowing for easy cruising with plenty of swimming and wakeboarding. Amongst many high lights was catching a small Mai Mai, or Dolphin fish. The distinctive green and blue colours surprising everyone. Thie fish let go before landing which is great, it will hopefully breed, and numbers will continue to grow. That’s two of these beautiful fish in the last three years, which is promising after zero for the previous 20 years!
After another successful summer cruise, we had to change out all the cruising sails and toys for the racing gear. Christophe and Jo reunited, after the trip down from Flensburg, to pick up the gear from our Antibes storage and van it, via Toulon and the ferry, to meet us in Palma. Tash and Alice were busy revictualling and cooking race crew meals. Finn had Hamann plant issues to solve, so it was a busy few days before we left Club de Mare to anchor on the west coast ready to cross to Barcelona. A quite few hours learning to backflip off the rail and then we took off. As we happened to be crossing over the Balearic shelf at sunset, we managed to snag a lovely tuna to add to the menu. We were all very excited for the next event, the Puig Classica coinciding with the Louis Vuitton challenger series for the 2024 Americas Cup. As soon as we entered the port of Barcelona the atmosphere picked up, we motored in past the Italian and American teams and the Suis and the Kiwis. The UK team was literally right behind Cambria berth in Real Club Nautica Barcelona. Race crew arrived later that afternoon and everyone was buzzing. Not only for the Americas Cup but also to walk on and check out Cambria’s new deck. It had been a long 14 months since our last race and much had happened.
As it had been a while we planned two days practice and as it happened due to changeable weather conditions we needed both days. The rig still need tweaking as she had now settled after the trip south and with the racing main on we could make the last adjustments. Thunderstorms and unstable weather mad it difficult for sail choices. The Tuesday session for the challenge cup was cancelled with lightening hitting the water next to the yachts…. We were practicing at the time. The positive from this was Team Brittania freeing up to do some promotion work and doing a few ‘fly bys’ past us. An incredible sight and sound. Anslie gybing and taking on us at 35 knots of speed, incredible. We were all in awe. The moment certainly not lost on all of us. The last time Brittania sailed with Cambria was in 1934, when the original Brittania, k1, the Kings yacht raced each other.
The three days racing were in breezes between 5 and 18 knots and generally in a 1m+ swell. Our class consisted of Halloween, Tuiga, Lady Anne and Mariska. As expected Though again taking line honours each day, Cambria finished 5 on corrected. The biggest result of the regatta was Cambria’s new deck; what a winner! She was so much stiffer through the hull. This was particularly noticeable through the swell as Cambria no longer stopped as she landed in a swell, she pushed through and accelerated! She will always be a flat-water race yacht, however the structural stability with the new deck transfers the loads through the hull to the keel quicker which builds her acceleration and makes us very excited for her future.
Whilst waiting for northerlies to stop howling through the Golfe de Lion, we were able to take in the spectacle of the LVC finals. Each day the crowd grew as the final series approached. We finally managed a break in the weather and the classic fleet departed for the next event, the Regate Royale in Cannes.
Due to continuing health issues, we withdrew from the last two events of the year, Cannes and St Tropez.
A disappointing end to the season after a difficult but amazing year. Plenty of miles at sea; great racing and extended cruising.
Special thanks to Dave and the permanent crew, it’s been an epic effort by all to finish off the refit and then back it up with the sailing season. The undying love for the boat by the owner and his family, the extended race crew and all the families who are in the background.
Cheers aye
Chris