If it’s the first Friday in June then it’s the Bertoletti Trophy Race which is held annually at Kinsale Yacht Club in memory of our esteemed former steward Mario Bertoletti who welcomed one and all to our Club for many years.
The forecasted strong North winds blew and the full tide was at 2100 HRS to get everybody home on time. The sun came out and our Race Officers Denis Kieran and Mary Stanley got the fourteen boat fleet off to a clean downwind start. Spinnakers were flown by the brave to the first mark which came up all too quickly. A long reach to Sandy Cove turned into a fetch at the end with the wind bending off the land. After rounding to port, a quick gybe brought Centre Point on the bow giving the bigger boats a chance to strut their stuff in the ever increasing winds. A long tough beat back into Charles Fort via Bulman satisfied all, both big and small, as the wind stayed very fresh until the fleet had completed the course.
Back in the clubhouse, all 76 participants were on tenterhooks until the computer, wheezing in the back room, produced the results.
1. Flora (Squib) B. Nash & D. Ross
2. Valfreys (Sigma 33) D. Riome
3. Godot (Dufour 44) J. Godkin
4. Cirrus (Elan 31) G. & M. Campbell (Shorthanded)
The Bertoletti Race is the first of four “all in” races held on Friday evenings during the season.
The overall winners will receive the Matthews Trophy.
Full results on KYC.ie