It was one of the closest finishes in the 40-year history of the Channel Islands Yacht Challenge when, after more than three and a half hours at sea, barely a minute separated the two boats.It meant Simon Henning’s crew, runners-up last year, had to settle for second again, but both yachts had enough of a lead over the field to beat the handicap.Third across the line was Guernsey’s Mellow, the first multi-hull finisher, and Wonkey Donkey, followed by Toybox from Jersey.However, the first two were the only ones not to be affected by the handicap with Mellow dropping down to 12th overall and Roger Martel’s Wonkey Donkey crew moving up a place to take third.That meant Melges 24s occupied the first three places, with only Steve Morris and Martin Ozard’s X-Celerator preventing Jersey’s The Bees making it four out of four.The event once again attracted the CI’s top sailors with nearly 500 crew aboard the 99 yachts taking part and the start was a colourful spectacle as almost the entire field set off from St Aubin’s Bay under spinnaker.Conditions were far from ideal though, with light winds dominating throughout the race.
Brown’s finishing time of 3 hr 33 min 35 sec was quicker than expected, but a full half hour slower than the fastest crossing last year by Alice.The lack of wind should have favoured the slower cruising yachts, but a number were victims of the weather in the Little Russell late on.
With the finish in sight, they found themselves becalmed as the breeze died and put paid to any chance of reaching the line in time.Instead it was the faster racing yachts that triumphed, having got clear by the time the field split off Corbière.
They benefited from the best conditions mid-race and opened up just enough of a lead to keep them ahead of the handicapper.Despite the overall honours going to Jersey, Guernsey fared better than last year in the other top awards.Guernsey Yacht Club’s team of Alice, Majic, White Rabbit and X-Celerator beat St Helier YC to regain the Sir James Knott Trophy.Honours were even in the Dresdner Team Trophy, which was won by the RCIYC Melges trio of The Bee’s, Wonkey Donkey and Moist & Wet.Twenty-year-old Mike Henning made up for his father’s second place by taking the Dresdner Young Skipper Award, finishing 19th overall aboard Alice.Guernsey also took the honours in the private contest between staff of sponsors Kleinwort Benson, with the crew aboard Kush Kush finishing ahead of their Jersey colleagues on Friendship Rose.
