The inaugural Working Boat Championship was staged in the Carrick Roads at the weekend and provided holidaymakers and spectators with some wonderful sights as these very colourful boats - in full sail - graced the waters of the Falmouth Roads.

St Mawes Sailing Club hosted the event and, according to the crews, was an experience enjoyed by everyone. The sailing, the friendship and the splendid co-operation of the St Mawes harbourmaster, who went out of his way to accommodate all 17 boats with moorings, ensured the event would be one to be remembered.

The race management team of John and Liz Maunder with their kindly-lent yacht Melkin, assisted by Cedric Thomas with his shot gun, Wilf Webber on the flags and Ron Medlyn as race officer, enjoyed the experience and the comradeship of all the fleet's crews.

Evelyn, owned by a St Mawes syndicate and helmed by various helmsmen on each day, was crowned the champion after sailing a good series with consistently good results.

Second place went to another St Mawes syndicate boat the Florence, helmed by Garry Hitchings, who also sailed consistently well. Third place went to the Lola", owned by S Creeden and sailed by Timmy Bailey.

The racing was so close that three boats shared fourth place: the Victory owned by David Carne and David Muirhead and sailed by Paul Collins; the Stella owned and sailed by I Jenkins; and the Rebecca owned and sailed by Phil Slater. Phil only helmed two races, the first and the last, winning both.

All the large working boats sail to a handicap set by the Working Boat committee. This handicap is constantly being reviewed and it makes for very close racing and the margin of the handicap on the first six boats must have been very close.

Full report in this week's issue.