The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s St Malo Race, otherwise known as the The Cowes – Dinard – St Malo Race, is a classic 150nm course which owes its popularity to both its legacy and the varied, challenging conditions it offers up.
This year’s edition, which started on Friday 5 July 2024 from the Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes, Isle of Wight, saw over 100 boats enter and over 500 sailors take part. It certainly lived up to its reputation with some heavy weather and conditions to challenge even the most seasoned sailors.
Three of the entries were Clipper Events yachts led by professional skippers and mates, and crewed by adventurers with a range of sailing experience.
Sarah Puntan Galea was new to sailing and decided to take part in the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race with Clipper Events as a precursor to taking on the Clipper Race. She says: “I decided to do this before my Clipper Race Level 1 training to experience what a race entails and to go in with eyes wide open.
“Being a beginner, I was quite apprehensive but the skipper was amazing and so calm and our first mate was really good at instructing too. There was always someone watching what I was doing, so I felt I could have a go. If I was too slow or I wasn’t quite getting it, someone would come over and help me. Nobody ever said ‘you got it wrong’ or ‘don’t do it that way’ or shouted, I was constantly guided to learn by doing which I think is the best way. I felt safe all the time, we were constantly told to clip on. In addition to the Skipper and Mates, the more experienced crew were also great and so willing to help.”
When asked if her experience has affirmed her decision to take part in the Clipper Race, she said: “If you asked me yesterday, it was so rough and I was a bit seasick, I would have said ‘no, I’m never sailing again!’ but today, I’m smiling and excited to get on with my Level 1. It’s probably the unusual way around but I have found it really helpful to have some insight into what a race is like. It was just a wonderful experience and I’m really glad I did it.”
