The fifth race in the COGS offshore series took place on Saturday, with competitors sailing from Helford Sailing Club to Penzance.

Eleven yachts took their places on the start line at 9am to make the best of the tide around the Lizard point.

With the wind an easterly force 5-6,  the yachts had a very wet three mile run to the Manacles buoy, the first mark of the course.

Three starters found this too much and decided to retire, the remaining nine yachts then had the wind behind them and a fast run to the Lizard Light House.

The wind then increased to a south east force seven with gusts of force eight and, with the tide with the,  they all recorded very fast boat speeds.

Black Dog was the fastest boat, recording over 18 knots being the fasted boat, and Scorpion the slowest recorded, twelve knots.

The next mark was Low Lee buoy just outside Newlyn Harbour, with only Black Dog was brave enough to put up their heavy duty spinnaker.

All nine boats reported fast speeds and had good fun surfing down 15 foot swells, with boat instruments showing a wind speed of over 30 knots and the helmsman holding on to the tiller to keep their boat at the right angle to the swells.

Some yachts broached, taking waves over the side and giving the crews a good soaking, but the sun soon dried them out.

The last leg, with the wind now on the beam and decreasing, and the finish line just off Penzance sailing club in sight, went relatively smoothly.

Black Dog finished in 3 hrs 20 minutes, and the last yacht Demolition in 4 hrs and 15 mins, and then all crews enjoyed a barbecue and a welcome drink at Penzance Sailing club.

RESULTS: IRC class: 1st Black Dog, 2nd Tresillian, 3rd Scorpion; PY class: 1st Valkyrie, 2nd Laidback 3rd Noon Hi; Yachts which sailed two handed: 1st Noon Hi, Jack Penty; 2nd Scorpion, Geoff Davies.

The next race in the series is from Fowey to Helford on the 7th September. Any yachts wishing to take part should visit cogsracing.org.uk