Truro River Surfboat Race 2011
This 10km race first began with Truro River Gig club organising a race from Mylor Harbour to the Vickery Holman building situated by the basin at Truro. The event was scheduled for the Easter saturday each year. Because of the increasing size of the World Gig Championships at the beginning of May on the Isles of Scilly crews have to ship their gigs to the islands earlier and therefore they have difficulty attending the Truro event, now scheduled for later in the year.
The April date suited the surfboat crews with rolling seats installed in the boats. It gave crews an opportunity to contest a distance race before the boats returned to their respective beaches.
Surfboat crews agreed to alternate the course rowed each year between the mens and womens crews. The timing of the race is scheduled to ensure that crews reach the lock gate at Truro on the high tide. In 2009 the Mens crew rowed from Mylor to Truro and the Womens crews rowed the return leg back to Mylor (and it saves moving trailers across the county).
The Truro River Surfboat Race 2011
Saturday April 16th
Mylor to Truro (and back again)
Last Saturday saw the surfboat season’s traditional curtain-raiser – the Truro River Race. There was a slight breeze, the sun turned up and conditions bordered on very pleasant.
The Men had first crack with the crews in the boats and the sweeps starting in the water on the rocky beach in front of the Restronguet Sailing Club. As the boats navigated out between the moored yachts there wasn’t a lot between them hinting that the sprints over the shorter courses of the Summer Series may be close run events.
By the time the strokes had settled into their race pace Porthtowan Blue Bali eased out a five-length lead over the Bude Baracudas followed by the Perranporth Probables, Porthtowan Blue Betty and the Perranporth Porkers.Porthtowan Blue Bali showed the benefits of a month in New Zealand and went on to win comfortably from The Bude Barrcudas. The real race took place between the Perranporth Probables and Porthtowan Blue Betty. Both crews put in big efforts to try and secure an advantage. Neither crew succumbed to the pressure and every section of the river was used to try and extend a lead. In the end at the flood gate Perranporth Probables just snuck 3rd place only 5 seconds ahead (1 boat length) from Porthtowan Blue Betty. Perranporth Porkers claimed 5th spot, a creditable achievement for a crew with 3 novice rowers.
For the return journey the ladies race had 3 crews entered and they were set off from the flood gate at 1 minute intervals. First to leave was the Porthtowan Blue Rinsers followed by Perranporth Phoenix and then Porthtowan Pure Blue. The debate in the Perranporth crew was whether to follow the channel or take a chance and take the shortcut across the shallow water covering the mud flat, in the knowledge that the tide was receding. The second option won the vote and so as the boat slowed crossing shallow water a big push was asked for to try and close the gap on the leaders. This was later to prove to be a key decision in the race. The Blue Rinsers lead all the way just 30 secs ahead of Perranporth Phoenix who were trying to stay at least 60 seconds ahead of Porthtowan Pure Blue.
At the finish on the beach of Restronquet Sailing Club the crews were counting down the seconds on their watches. Porthtowan Blue Rinsers touched home first followed 34 secs later by Perranporth Phoenix who were 72 secs ahead of Porthtowan Pure Blue. Looking at the finish times, If all crews had started together it would have been a right royal battle all the way.
Thanks to everyone who took part and, in particular, to those who organised, started and provided safety cover – Karen Hardwick (timing), Spike Gaisford (starter) and Alan and Ryan Richards (collector of flotsam and jetsam) on their Zapcat
2011 Results
Men - up the river
Porthtowan Blue Bali 48:57
Bude Barracudas....... 50.31
Perranporthh Probables 52.48
Porthtowan Blue Betty .............52.53
Perranporth Porkers. 54.05
Women - down the river
Perranporth Phoenix...... 55.28
Porthtowan Pure Blue. 55:40
Porthtowan Blue Rinsers..... 56.02
2010 Results
Women - up the river
Bude Runners..... 53:24
Perran Rebel Angels 55:29
Porthtowan Blue something 56:26
Perran Fallen Angels 57:45
Bude Newbies.............. 58:36
Men - down the river
Bude Barracudas. 48:41
Porthtowan Blue Bali 53:15
Perran Old Farts... 56:24
Porthtowan Blue Betty............. 57:05
Perran Mixed..... 58:36
Map of the course
