THE 1992 AZORES PURSUIT RACE

Mike de Petrovsky

It was with some misgivings that finally, last November, I agreed to organise this year's Pursuit Race to Horta. It is not in my nature to become shackled to inescapable commitments more than a few days ahead. However, perhaps having spent so many memorable times in the Azores, I felt sufficiently indebted to the islanders to overcome my innate aversion and, as my American friends would say, `bite the bullet'.

The next five months followed a pattern that is probably common to all race preparations - enquiries, entries, cancellations and payments. The computer handled them all until Mary Falk, our legal oracle, raised the spectre of possible litigation. In our archives or pursuit race history was a large wadge of race rules, paralleling those issued to entrants in most ocean races. It now seemed that these might represent a legal minefield, should a mishap occur to a yacht or crew whilst competing in the event. After much consultation and consideration a decision was arrived at that would no doubt have pleased both Hasler and Tilman - scrap the lot. And so, common sense having prevailed, skippers were advised that they had sole and total responsibility for the seaworthy state and passage of both yacht a crew and to consult the ORC recommendations if in doubt.

Towards the end of April, something happened that was to make a major change in my relationship with the sea. A short while earlier, more in hope than in expectation, I had placed my Arpege, Timpani, on the books of a local broker. Now here he was phoning me to tell me of an offer too good to refuse. By early May the yacht, which had for nine years carried me safely over 25,000 miles and more of ocean sailing, was no longer mine. For the first time in nineteen years I was without a boat, besides which, I had to be in Horta by the end of July.

For some time, rumours of cheap boats in the USA, backed up by advertisements in occasional copies of Cruising World, had been filtering through to North Wales, rekindling the spirit of the Klondike and the wagon train. Everything pointed to the West as there was little hope of striking it rich among the over-inflated prices still prevailing here in the UK. I just had to go. Ann, my wife, kindly agreed to hold the fort and deal with Pursuit Race matters in my absence.

Without any particular yacht in mind, I made for Newport, Rhode Island, where Jim and Pam Stanek put me up and set me on a course that two days later culminated in the purchase of Bandit, an Ericson 39. For approximately a third more than the amount that I had received for Timpani, I now had a boat with an LOA 10ft longer. It was almost unbelievable, as was the next fortnight during which Bandit was made ready for sea. It would have been impossible without the help of the Staneks and OCC member Erika Brigham, who helped with accommodation and transport as we ranged from Newport to the Canadian border in pursuit of fitting out `deals'. Eventually we had to leave, although one felt that old pre-race feeling that another month's preparation was really needed.

The passage across the North Atlantic was uneventful except that the winds were mostly contrary to the pilot charts. Three weeks later we reached Baltimore, Ireland, and subsequently our home base at Port Dinorwic. With one week to spare, life became a hectic rush between catching up with Pursuit Race matters and carrying out repairs to Bandit. On 21st July we sailed for Horta via Dunmore East. Thirty miles out of Cork we ran into a 55-knotter, followed by three more gales in fairly close succession. We barely saw the sun and were glad that the sextant had taken second place to a GPS. Only when almost in sight of Graciosa did the weather relent and the Azorean High make itself felt.

We drifted into Horta early on 2nd August and linked up with several Pursuit Race entrants who were already there. Contact with Peter and Jose Azevedo and Jo…o Carlos Fraga was established and very soon Ann and I were again in the thick of administrative procedures. In company with Jo…o Fraga, we went out to the finishing line to watch the fleet come in. Only Salsa del Mar crossed the line, the rest being engineless and already overcome by the manana bug, trapped in the true spirit of OCC Pursuit Racing. Later I was to receive only two race declarations, which did little to resolve the order of finishing.

By Monday night all the Pursuit Race yachts had arrived, apart from Excalibur of Bosham which had resigned with rudder trouble shortly after starting out. Thus on Tuesday evening, 4th August, eight crews enjoyed a splendid buffet provided by the Azores Tourist Authority at the Estalagem de Santa Cruz, (the old Fort). The Authority had also arranged to present a vast array of prizes and plaques to both the OCC and a large contingent of French singlehanders who had raced in their small one-designs from Vannes. Protocol demanded that I announce the OCC winners - an almost impossible task as we had one line-crosser, two declarations, one retrospective entry, six engine users and a variety of vessels ranging from 55ft to 28ft LOA. Desmond Hampton's handicap formula was of little help apart from its non-mathematical closing clauses that implied a certain poetic licence in decision making.

In the end, by a process of ruthless elimination, the matter was resolved. Bandit was excluded for obvious reasons. Breakaway, a Tradewind 33 skippered by Wendy Moore, although probably having had the toughest trip, did four days of motoring and arrived late so was excluded, pending a special award at the OCC dinner later in the week. H J Harri, the retrospective entrant and late arrival, returning from OSTAR*, was also eliminated. Ntombifuti, fortunately the only singlehander, was `diverted' into a different category and her skipper, Raymond Page, was presented with a special cup for his lone effort. Corkscrew, a 28ft Twister coming home engineless after the OSTAR, sailed by Trevor Leek and daughter Sarah, was awarded a cup donated and presented by Peter Azevedo for special merit. Five down and three to go! Salsa del Mar, skippered by Ben Poort, being the only vessel to cross the line at the specified time had to have first place. QII, returning from Mary Falk's successful OSTAR and skippered by Gordon Phypers, had sailed the whole voyage and was allotted second place. This left Piel Piper, a concrete vessel skippered by Leslie Mathews, in third place. It seemed that everyone concerned was happy with these arrangements.

The following Wednesday some thirty-plus persons travelled to the north coast to enjoy a very tasty barbecue, lubricated by a large volume of draught ale and not a little vino.

Our own Race Dinner was held on Friday evening at the O Baro restaurant in Horta. Ten Azorean/Portuguese guests and thirty or so sailors attended and all enjoyed a veritable feast, helped down with a plentiful supply of appropriate liquid. After dinner, a special prize was awarded to each yacht. Breakaway won the OCC Power Boat Award, in addition to a prize for the toughest voyage. Piel Piper, having collided through gearbox failure with another vessel on entry, won the Marina Billiards Trophy - a bag of cement. H J Harri, reported to have been going backwards at one stage of her voyage, was awarded a prize for Mariners with Special Learning Difficulties, this being a tea-cloth chart of the Azores complete with windmill to remind them of their ultimate destination.

Sunday arrived and with it the Regata do Canal race, during which it is customary for visiting yachts to take some of the local people out for a sail. Bandit found herself with a mixed crew of nine, which must have had a good effect on the vessel for she managed to finish second on handicap. This saw the end of Sea Week, though we had one more event of note before saying farewell to Faial. Ann, Barrie Phypers, Luige (and Azorean/Citizen of the World who had crewed on Saturday's race) and I sailed across to Pico early the following week, climbed by nightfall to the rim of the crater, where we bivouaced, before ascending the final summit peak of the volcano in a rising dawn. A map and compass, windproof outer garments and some stout footwear are all that are needed to do the ascent, which is well worn and marked with posts as far as the crater rim - Edward Whymper would probably have described it as a gentle stroll for a lady! (The summit cone is comprised of 50 feet or so of loose scree and steeper rock that requires care and an easy scramble. Do not be put off by this, as an ascent to the crater rim is still worthwhile. In clear weather it affords magnificent views and superb examples of volcanic phenomena.

Special thanks are owed to: Peter and Jose Azevedo, who supported the race with their usual generosity and willingness to assist and advise wherever possible; Jose's cousin, Maria Jose Goncalves, and Jose Dionisio for making themselves and their minibuses available to race crews for free tours of Faial; and lastly Jo…o Carlos Fraga for his continued help and advice in all race matters.

Epilogue

I was to dine out with Jo…o Fraga before finally departing Horta. Whether it was the endearing enthusiasm and warmth of the welcome he exuded or the excellent vinho verde that accompanied the meal that led us into planning another race, given the OCC Committee's blessing, I shall never know. Suffice to say that 1994 should be a vintage year in Faial!

* Purists, greenhorns and pedagogues, please substitute Europe 1 Singlehanded TransAtlantic Race for OSTAR.

(1667 words)