The Notts Police winning team of the Police Sport UK Offshore sailing Championships of 2008 entered Cowes Week 2009 as the representative of Police Sport UK. The team entered the Sunsail Sunfast 37 class - a one-design fleet of yachts with their own class start on each day of racing.

The original team from the PSUK event was slightly changed due to personal issues with some crew members. As replacements we had Mike Corrigan, a retired West Mids. Police Officer join the crew as navigator and Alan Rawsthorn, as
main-sheet trimmer for only his 2nd week in yacht sailing.

The Crew arrived at Port Solent, picked up Sunsail '4' and sailed across to Cowes on the Friday night. We were berthed at the Cowes Yacht Haven for the week.

As always the racing within the fleet was very close with places being lost when minor errors were made. This occurred on Race 2 when the skipper, covering another boat, let the majority of the fleet go another way taking the team from 1st to 4th place on the line.

However, the team were placed very well on each race but could not match the class act of the fleet, the team on Sunsail '1', The Listening Company. However, we were one of the only two teams to beat Sunsail '1' on the water all week with a 2nd place on Thursday's race which tended to indicate that they were no quicker and on the final race we came from 22nd at the first mark to third overall taking about ½ mile out of their lead during the race. Two circles by me on the first beat - port/starboard - put us back.

Sunsail held a prize-giving each night after racing with the first 3 places being awarded trophies, the final prize-giving on Friday evening was held with the Police Team being awarded 2nd place overall.

P.W.

Top Picture - Copyright Rick Tomlinson -  Sunsail 37 fleet, Cowes Week 2009