THE Crouch Yacht Club’s Victory Cup Series concluded with the Pursuit Race for the Whirlwind Trophy.

Just two boats made it to the start line, and Paul Trueman’s X37 Exile, sailing just two up, started first at 10.30am exactly.

Ian Hart, helming Alan Bartlett’s Inn Spirit, started at 10.33am, setting a spinnaker to chase Trueman’s Exile, sailing white sails only. The light winds were flukey, mainly from the East and hovered around 5 knots maximum for the first hour or so of the two-hour race.

Inn Spirit got through Exile at Number 15 on the way up to Cliff Reach when Inn Spirit benefitted from a slight increase in the breeze.

They then rounded Cliff Reach ahead and stayed just ahead of Exile for the remainder of the race.

Several times, Paul Trueman and Jan van der Schans in Exile closed on the fully crewed up Inn Spirit, but were unable to get through them and were a distance behind when the hooter sounded at 12.30pm.

A prizegiving followed in the club. Ian Hart was presented with the trophy by Sally Harbott.

This win gave Inn Spirit the Victory Cup. Next week all cruisers racing in Burnham in Bart’s Bash will be starting from the Crouch Yacht Club line at 10.30am.