THE 1994 AZORES PURSUIT RACE

Liz Hammick Scott

(A brief report of this year's Pursuit Race appeared in the September Newsletter. Now for a fuller account.)

Reporting in detail on the Azores Pursuit Race has fallen to me because our organizer, Mike de Petrovsky, sadly failed to arrive in Horta. Instead he had to put into La Coru¤a, something we only discovered later, after spending a wonderful week marred only by frequent enquiries on the lines of `Any news of Bandit?'

Fortunately Vice Commodore Peter Aitchison took over the arrangements together with Joao Carlos Fraga, his first task being to resolve the placings -- very difficult as we'd all come from different directions -- but the end result was: First, Castaway (George Tinley) who arrived on the morning of 7 August, eleven days out from Lymington, but came in early as a crew member had to leave by air; Second, Lone Rival (Mark Scott and myself, plus our two-year-old daughter Chloe) for having crossed the line correctly as the rules required, after a sixteen day passage from Bermuda to Flores and three weeks in the Azores; Third, Lucina (Peter and Caryl Aitchison) who arrived at midnight on 7 August, also eleven days out from the UK, and lastly a Special Prize to Tigs (Graham and Avril Johnson) for the most roundabout route to the finish. They'd visited Sao Miguel, Terceira and Sao Jorge before heading for the line, but owing to a misunderstanding with Joao Fraga, who was giving race instructions on VHF, never actually crossed it!

Placings are the least important thing about OCC events, the socialising providing the main reason for being there at all. On Tuesday 9th we enjoyed the hospitality of the Azores Tourist Board in the beautiful Estalagem de Santa Cruz, with a large array of generous prizes afterwards. In addition to the crews of the race yachts, we were joined by Dick and Rosemary Millerchip (Bathia) who had just signed on as new members and Roger Neal OCC (Irena). Wednesday found us at the O Barao Restaurant in the company of the Major of Horta and several local guests. Two power cuts added interest to the evening, which consisted of a delicious dinner with two fish courses before the meat. Luckily OCC members tend to have good appetites so we more than did it justice.

The Pico climb on Thursday was a great success, despite the lack of Mike de Petrovsky as leader. Graham, Avril and Adam Johnson, Roger Neal and I made it to the top and back in a day, enjoying fabulous views. We returned tired but with a real sense of achievement. (It's only fair to record that Mark had made the ascent the previous week, so that we could take turns minding Chloe).

Our last Race celebration, a barbecue-type dinner at the Capot' was more informal and great fun as usual -- it had been preceded by a `Dark and Stormy' party (Bermuda rum and ginger beer) on Lone Rival, attended by sixteen people, which had her severely down by the stern. Lucina was host boat for watching the whaleboat racing in the Canal do Faial on Saturday. Nineteen of us filled her decks and cockpit, with Caryl and Jan providing seemingly endless cups of tea and homemade cake. Castaway and Lone Rival competed in the Regata do Canal, thus ending yet another memorable Sea Week.

Special thanks are due to Joao Carlos Fraga for all his work at the Horta end, and to Peter Aitchison for taking over the organization at such short notice. Commiserations to Mike and his crew, and all those others who didn't get there. Another year, another chance -- we'll be back!

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Members who've visited Horta will know what a good friend Joao Carlos Fraga has always been to the club. I'm therefore delighted to report that he's recently accepted the Committee's invitation to become an Honorary Member -- a distinction which is not bestowed lightly.