Sicarius beats gale-like conditions to romp home ahead of Flasheart in Princess Royal Sailing Club’s Dymes Cup

Sicarius, skippered by Mark McRae, battled gale-like conditions to dominate the Princess Royal Sailing Club’s most sought-after trophy of the season, the Dymes Cup, last Saturday.

The Dymes Cup has been contested since 1910 and on a day which kept the Flying Fifteens on shore for a second successive week, Sicarius blitzed away at the start and was never headed.

Joker pulled out of the race just before the start leaving four to fight it out in a strong southerly which blew at a steady 22 knots with occasional gusts reaching up to 30 knots.

With the conditions keeping everyone on their toes, Dunluce was first away in the handicap start.

However, even with last year’s winner Peter Bane at the helm hoping for a repeat, Dunluce struggled in the wild weather.

Neil Worrell was away next with Zuri, opting to go JAM as he had just one crew aboard, but he held his own and was followed a minute later by scratch boat Flasheart with Stephen Lee on the tiller.

Zuri caught and passed Dunluce before being overtaken by a flying Sicarius which rapidly established a huge lead and was never challenged during the entire race.

Flasheart was sailing quickly but was left further behind Sicarius at every mark.

Zuri wasn’t far in arrears in third place and was well ahead of Dunluce.

Sicarius had the benefit of two experienced crew with McRae and Corrina Ridgway and having four up on the big boat proved to be the difference.

They finished first, almost 12 minutes in front of Flasheart in second.

The runners-up sailed a faultless race but were beaten on the day.

Zuri gave Flasheart a bit of a scare in taking third place in a fine effort.

Because of the Walpole Regatta, racing will resume at PRSC on March 7.