6 members of Penzance sailing club entered the World Mirror Championship being held at Restrouguet sailing Club.
They were lead by the mirror fleet captain Eric Taylor and his crew Aoife Mooney, Lloyd Williams crew Demelza Hewitt, and finally Sebi Schmidt crew Rosin Mooney.
All three mirrors were pack up on the Thursday evening ready to be transported to Restrouguet on the Saturday, when we arrived at the club all the mirrors had to be weighed, sails checked for size mast, boom spinnaker pole all measured centre board and rudder all checked.
After this all the mirrors went into the pens and were rigged for the practice race on the Sunday.
Competitors came from all around the world. Japan, South Africa, Australia, Nederland’s, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, in that were a strong contingent from Cornwall.
Before the practice race there was a Race briefing, Then the on the water international Jury explained to us what they would be looking for and the penalties if caught.
The practice race was on a bright and breezy afternoon a three lap course was set comprising of two triangles and an upwind downwind lap then back to the club for tea.
Monday, Tuesday, 3 races per day, nothing exciting to report courses were two Olympic and 1 windward leeward. Had a few really good starts and a couple of good reaches where we gained a few places but lost out some on the beats.Wednesday was a day that the forecast would mean no racing but on the day it was on the upper limit so three races was raced at the end of the day I was lying 31st overall
Thursday two race were ran in rather Gusty winds Eric and Aoife were flying the spinnaker just one leg before the finish when they were hit by a gust and capsized this is the first time Eric has capsized in over 9 years, so as he was helped to right the dinghy and retired from the race, at the start of the next race he started at the committee boat end had a good start and sailed well on the final run to the finish his team mate Sebi, was only using main and jib Eric and Aoife was pushing and the commentary from one of the Looe support boat on the video was like the final few furlongs of a horse race Eric passed Sebi just before the finish line. As Eric crossed the finish line they had their second capsized of the day but it was after they had finished. Eric being rather tied after his second capsize of the day George Schmidt jumped in to help right the boat, unknown to Eric he had his clothes on so coffee and hot Chocolate was on Eric that day.
Friday only one race was sailed to make the 12 race series after a general recall the race got underway an 3 lap Olympic course was sailed after the finish Aoife helmed to dinghy from the finish line all the way to just short of the club house here we dismantled the dinghy and packed it up for the tow home back to Penzance. My best race position was 11th.
Lloyd, Sebi and Eric would like to thank Dean and Diddy in helping us to launch and recover after the races and to George for taking photos of this event.
The overall results for the Penzance team in the 2017 mirror World were:-
Eric Taylor Aoife Mooney 32nd
Lloyd Williams Demelza Hewitt 35th
Sebi Schmidt Rosin Mooney 39th they also won the Mirror Classic Trophy for top Gaff rigged Mirror.
