CAPTAINS REPORT 2022
With the end of the covid restrictions on travel and the necessity of PCR testing over with, we seemed to be back to a more normal Cambria year. Plans of Antibes regatta, cruising in the Aeolians, Northern Italy and Corsica before returning for the autumn regattas of Imperia, Cannes and St Tropez.
Following our annual May Antibes yard period which included drawing the prop shafts and replacing cutlass bearings; we slipped with freshly antifouled hull into our Voiles de Antibes regatta berth. Antibes again proved challenging with the weather conditions and new rulings from the committee. No excuses but 3 of the 5 in class missed a ruling on a mark thinking we had rounded it correctly only to find at the end of the day to be given a NSC. Cambria had sailied well with line honours but to no avail against Viveka, Oriander, Halloween and Sky. Day two saw a heavy swell from the east and no wind, after lining up for the start Cambria withdrew as it was boat breaking conditions. Shortly after the race was postponed. The race was held later that afternoon, but conditions were not favourable so both Cambria and Halloween DNS. Day 3 was a perfect Cambria day and with full understanding of the nuances of the mark rounding’s, Cambria took line honours and with a dying breeze managed to hold on to 1st on corrected. Day 4 was a shortened course with a solid 8-10 knots, Cambria happily took line honours but with a constant breeze could not put in enough distance on a short course to hold off the rest of the class finishing 5th on corrected time.
We were joined in our race crew by Diane Sears, the wife of Micheal Sears who owned Cambria from 1973 to 1986/7. It was magic to finally meet Diane and share stories from Cambria’s past life with her and Micheal, and look forward to sharing more time together.
From Antibes we were bound for Palermo, Sicily for the first cruise of the Summer around the Aeolian Islands. The highlight of the delivery to Palermo was undoubtably the near catching of a Mahi Mahi. The near catching as it was lost before the gaff could do its job and land it on board. though we were all disappointed to lose lunch and dinner we were so excited to see one in the flesh and happy it escaped to repopulate the Med with its wonderful species. I have heard many stories of these fish in the Med but we had never seen one in 20 years of dragging a lure all over the Med! The cruising was beautiful through Salina, Lipari, Stromboli, Panarea and Vulcano. Though there was a distinct lack of wind for sailing it was ideal for swimming, wakeboarding and generally lazing about Other memories of the Sicily voyage is the incredible Arancini balls in a small trattoria just outside the marina and picking up some tainted fuel……
After going through a number of fuel filters we returned to Cannes and then onto Genoa for the next cruise. Genoa is a wonderful city, full of maritime history with the birthplace of Christopher Colombus and the Genovese. We had a few days in the city before picking up and cruising east to Portofino, Saint Marguarite, Cinque Terra, Porto Venere and return.
Following our time in the heart of Pesto we returned to Cannes to pick up our next adventure with the freediving crew. We set off with flippers and bikes for a cycle and freedive training cruise on the west coast of Corsica. The weather started to go fruity mid voyage with one thunderstorm, though remaining dry illuminated the night sky for fifteen minutes at a time, more like a strobe light at a club than the wilds of western Corsica. Two nights later we left Corsica with a forecast of cyclonic thunderstorms, with no real secure and safe 360-degree anchorage we set sail for the French mainland, Villefrance. The evening we left I observed a number of whales breaching on the western horizon. The sun set was golden and certainly painted an eerie atmosphere. The morning after we awoke in Villefrance to the news of the terrible storm in Corsica causing devastating destruction to the yachts at anchor and tragically a couple of deaths. The diving training was a success as was the cycling and we disembarked the team back in Cannes a couple of days later.
It was time change out cruising sails for race gear and head to Imperia for the first of three autumn regattas, the Vel d’Epoca di Imperia. Three days of racing turned into 1 result as the sea served up trying conditions. The first day was forecast to have a 35knot mistral arrive around 1500 that afternoon. As a result Cambria stayed in her berth, and we all watched from the shore. The question was whether the fleet could get around the course before the wind arrived. The mistral arrived like a locomotive at 1505 just as the first of the fleet turn for the finish line. With the 180 degree wind shift no one could make the finish line with the time limit. Sadly Rowdy lost their rig and limped back into port. As a result, due to the vagrancies of yacht race scoring. Cambria actually won the day without leaving her berth, receiving less penalty points for DNS compared to DNF!! The second day presented very little wind and large left over swell. Cambria and Halloween both withdrew from racing leaving Tuiga to win the day. The final day was perfect breeze for all. Cambria easily took line honours and a second on corrected, resulting in a second over all for the regatta. It was great to have Alex and Nasma with us plus some past crew members, Sean and Luca. The feeling a board was magic. Following the regatta we managed to catch the largest Loup de Mare (Sea Bass) I’ve seen in the Med. Following a light lunch, Ini and I spotted the fish struggling off the cliffs below. With nothing more than a beach bag we corralled the fish and headed off to find a restaurant will to cook it up for us. That night we fed Cambria, Halloween and the restaurant staff!
Cannes and St Tropez regattas followed, and the wild weather of the season continued. Cannes regatta had a great fleet; Viveka (the 15m schooner), Tuiga (15m), Halloween (cruising 15m), Sumurun, Mariella, Naema, Shenandoah, Orianda and Wayfarer Alpha. Though no Elena, it was great to have Naema and Sumurun to race against. Sumurun was sailed hard and was certainly competitive with her new oversized rigs. The racing was as expected with the usual suspects doing very well on corrected time; Viveka, Tuiga, Halloween, Sumurun and Mariella. Cambria coming in 6th on corrected time. The most memorable moment of the regatta was being delivered a tray full of beers for the crew from the Sumurun crew after a Port/Starboard crossing incident with the Sumurun (on port) narrowly missing Cambria (on starboard).
Les Voiles de St tropez was again split into two classes for the Big Boats, the schooners and everyone else! So again we missed our main rival Elena who in the end had wonderful racing against Shenandoah. Cambria was again left with the smaller yachts. This didn’t really matter over the week as two days were lost to a severe Mistral, Wednesday evening seeing 57 knots in the port. Cambria’s mast was healing over 4 yachts to leeward of her, it was a stressful evening, but the moorings all proved excellent, and the yachts held. Not so ideal on the capitainerie side where the yachts beam to spent the evening fighting to keep fenders in place and protect against hulls rubbing together or against the concrete walls. Thursday was a great day all round as we were challenged by Halloween for lunch. Cambria hobbled with a reef still overrun Halloween and everyone enjoyed the day culminating with a lunch and Tug o’ War on the beach. I’m not sure who won the ToW but the tradition is set and I’m sure it will be reignited next time! Friday racing was a Cambria day, steady breeze up to 12 knots and Cambria showed all her stern wave to take line honors and a solid 5th on corrected. Saturday the mistral returned and after an exciting downwind start, as the wind built to 30 knots Cambria retired and returned for port. Shenandoah reveled in the conditions, and it was magic to see take out the regatta, a rare result for the grand schooner.
Many thanks to all the race crew (Christophe, Ez, Jean Mich, Jonas, Seano, Tarquin, George, Shippo, Louis, Eric, Didier, Rollo, Canook, Alexis, Banger, Sam, JLVB, Mathieu, Fleur, Thibaud, Grace and permanent crew; Dave, Max, Emily, Alex and Charlotte. We are all looking forward to next season.
Cheers aye
Chris