The parade on Saturday morning, July 8th, was led by the Kingswear Castle and included 28 French boats, some of which had sailed from as far away as La Rochelle, in the Vendee on the west-central coast of France. The scheduled race however, was abandoned as there was no wind in Start Bay.
The afternoon did witness some drama however, as the Dart Lifeboat, at the request of the ambulance service, picked up a paramedic on the walk ashore pontoon and transferred him to the yacht moored at the DA Pontoon.
The casualty had sustained injuries after a fall the previous evening. He was transported by the lifeboat to where the ambulance crew were awaiting to take him to hospital.
The extent of his injuries were not severe but It is still unclear whether he was able to attend a boisterous dinner enjoyed by 410 guests in the Market Square. All crews were invited and Dartmouth Mayor, Councillor Richard Cooke was there, amongst others.
On Sunday, July 9th, the wind had picked up to Force 3 and the flotilla left Dartmouth at around 1pm for the start of racing at 2pm in Start Bay. Three yachts collided at the start but damage was not severe and racing continued.
Class One and Two, Division One, was won by the British boat, a Bermudan Sloop, Pazienza, once owned by Pete Townsend of ‘The Who’. Division Two winner was a French Boat Guiriden II, another Bermudan Sloop, but out of St Vaast La Houge.
Class Three, Division One was won by Phyryne, a more modern Bermudan sloop from the Yealm River. Division Two was won by Ella, a Contessa 32 from Dartmouth.
On Monday July 10th, the yachts left Dartmouth at 2pm, for the start of the Channel Race first leg, to St Peter Port in the Channel Islands.
The race finishes today, Friday, July 14th, in Paimpol on the Côtes-d’Armor in Brittany in northwestern France.