Jersey sails to success in Channel Island yacht race

Sunday 02 June 2019

A Jersey seafarer used a good deal of skill - and a little bit of magic - to sail to success ahead of 65 others in this year's Inter-Island Yacht Race.

The handicap system saw Tom Hill's ‘White Magic’ come in ahead of Julian Barber’s ‘Super Q’, also from Jersey, though Guernsey yachtsman Roger Martel did have the distinction of winning ‘line honours’, as his yacht ‘Kaya’ was the first to finish the Carey Olsen-sponsored passage between the islands.

In the process, he took third prize overall in a time of three hours and 40 minutes. Guernseyman Jim Nicolle's ‘Mustard Mitt II’ was fifth on handicap and first non-IRC yacht, and also first Master Mariner. 

Pictured: The winner of the race on handicap was 'White Magic', skippered by Jerseyman Tom Hill.

John Falla, Commodore of the Guernsey Yacht Club was gracious in defeat, speaking from a clubhouse decorated to reflect the post-event pirate party. "The changing conditions always mean that the winner cannot be predicted, hence the attraction of the race to all. Jersey picked up a lot of the silverware this year including the Sir James Knott team prize, so congratulations to them. 

“Guernsey has had a good run in recent years so can't complain too much. The most important thing is that the Carey Olsen remains the biggest and best race of the season and everyone prepares their boat for the one race they want to win. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Carey Olsen for their generous support of the race both this year and during the past 10 years," Mr Falla said.

Race start conditions were overcast with a light breeze from the west-northwest so that all boats started under white sails, beating initially from St. Aubin's bay to La Corbière lighthouse, with accompanying dolphins. With the tide on the turn inshore first, local knowledge of both the rocks and the currents on the way to Corbière was judged to provide the key to the first leg of the race. 

Pictured: Roger Martel from Guernsey won 'line honours' as his yacht, 'Kaya' was the first to finish the course.

The wind then dropped a little off the west coast of Jersey before generally backing allowing the majority of yachts to complete the leg to Guernsey on one tack without being hard on the wind. 

Alex Ohlsson, group managing partner of Carey Olsen and a long-time race participant, said: "This year's race, coupled with the post-race celebrations at the Guernsey Yacht Club, was a fantastic way to mark Carey Olsen's 10 years as race sponsor. 

“I'm very proud that the Carey Olsen remains the most established race in the Channel Islands' sailing calendar and is so popular across different age groups. It really is a race for the local sailing community as a whole and we're delighted to be associated with it."