2021 CAPTAIN REPORT
2021 Started as 2020 ended with severe restrictions however as vaccine levels across the world rose, we had light at the end of the tunnel for a more normal season.
Pcr tests and rapid antigen tests became the norm to travel and once everyone, from regatta organisers to countries border controls, there soon became options. Antibes regatta, being the first of the season again had to be postpone to September however by the start of June France, Italy and Spain had all opened up. We first cruised from Cannes to Bonifaccio and then decided for ease of transfer and flights to base our selves in Northern Sardinia between Porto Pollo and the Gulf of Orosei on the east coast. We spent a wonderful two months in the area, fully investigating every anchorage. There was plenty of wake boarding, skiing, windsurfing and Cambria had a couple of memorable sails as the westerlies built to 30 knots! Following cruising we headed back towards Cannes. We spent one day anchored off Calvi, Corsica wailing for a particularly strong Mistral to ease. Whilst at anchor we had a small (50ft) motor yacht drag their anchor onto us and foul their propellors on Cambria’s anchor chain. As it was still blowing 30+knots and the anchorage was now full we had no option but to buoy and drop the remainder of Cambria’s anchor chain in order for them to free themselves. By 1945hrs that evening with the help of divers from Calvi and the Societe de Nautique de Sauvage (SNS Calvi), the motorboat was free and towed to port. In the process our buoy had been removed so we had no choice but to hold station by motor until light and hopefully an ease in the weather as it was still 30 -35kts. The following morning when a large Mangusta motor yacht was raising the anchor they not only managed to catch our chain but Cambria’s anchor as well. This was a relief! Dave and Alex assisted their crew in untangling the mess and within an hour or so we had our anchor back stowed and set off back to Cannes. A few miles off the coast we also came across our fender we had used to bouy the chain, so the only thing lost was sleep!!
We returned to the French coast which had introduced very restrictive anchoring laws for vessels over 24m, which greatly affect Cambria. Places we had spent many years anchoring in or around, both on the mainland and large sections of North and South Corsica, are no longer available due to a blanket ruling to protect sea grass. Of course, we are all for protecting the environment, however I don’t believe this has been properly thought through and I hope there will be more discussion about this in the future.
Cambria competed in the Regate Royale and Les Voile de St Tropez this autumn. The best of the regattas was Cannes with wind every day, often building to 20 plus. We had great racing with Naema, Mariska, Tuiga, Moonbeam 3, Mariella, Halloween and a newly re-rigged Sumurun. Cambria raced well but the conditions certainly favoured Mariska who again proved our strongest competitor. The two Fifes sharing line honours over the week but eventually all losing out to Halloween, Mariska and Tuiga on corrected. St Tropez had reinvented itself again with the fleet being split into two, the classics and small moderns racing in week one, then the large moderns taking the port for week two. This is a shame as it separates Cambria from the other J Class yachts who all race in the large modern yacht categorie. Along with the Cannes participants we were also joined by Puritan, The Lady Anne (the 15m like Mariska and Tuiga), Noordwind and Iduna. Conditions were more extreme than Cannes with either no wind or too much wind. Cambria’s results were according to conditions, though we had some good tussles with the Lady Anne and Tuiga, again condition favoured the smaller yachts. Day two was a full mistral where Cambria did not start, as usual the parade of carnage followed as yachts who did race returning with at least ripped sails and worst broken masts! Lady Anne handled conditions best and won the big boat class.
I would like to thank the race crew; Jean Michel, Christophe, Ez, John LVB, Eric, Colin, Laura (and Arlo),Louis, Selwyn, Turbo, Nicki Wellings, Carter, Tibo, Francis, Rupert Powelsland, Sam laurie, Mathieu, Ignacio, Oscar, Leo and Margaretha. Also special thanks to the permanent crew; Dave, Max, Alex, Emily and Phoebe.
Cheers aye
Chris