Evening Cruiser Race

Published 17:12 on 22 May 2026

Three boats started the second race of the Cruiser Weekdays series: Pegasus II helmed by Alastair Johnson, Exisle with Andy Walker and Rob Finlayson, and Seeaway with Keith Ovenstone at the helm and Ross Middlemist crewing.

At the start, Exisle was overlapped with Pegasus II, but soon pulled ahead by a couple of boat lengths, with Seeaway very close behind.

All boats tried different gybes and goosewinged jibs on the first leg to D mark, but no combination seemed to be faster. Seeaway passed Pegasus II, but Exisle rounded D first, with the green hull of Seeaway second. It was now a dead run to M.

Just before the mark Alastair judged the wind had increased a little, so as a precaution he rolled in the jib by 3 turns.

The beat to C was one-sided and all three boats sailed on port tack. Andy in the Mk2 Griffon tacked first then Keith was next to tack, and he crossed Pegasus II's bow. Keith tacked back onto port shortly after, and just to windward of Alastair.

Andy rounded C first, Alastair tacked onto starboard and forced Keith to tack too. Alastair rounded the mark in second with Seeaway close behind.

All 3 boats initially bore off at C but this was a mistake as the wind backed. Exisle had to tack to make Z, and Seeaway passed close to windward of Pegasus II.

After rounding Z the boats eased sails. Seeaway was just in front of Pegasus II and Alastair tried to pass, but Keith defended and would not let him through. Alastair unrolled the jib and returned to full sail, but this was not enough to get past the Hunter Medina.

In a very close race, Exisle finished first, with Seeaway and Pegasus II close behind.