In 1982, Andrew Bray, the then Editor of Yachting
Monthly Magazine, returned from the Round Britain Race firmly convinced
that two-handed, long distance sailing, interspersed with lively parties,
was the only way to go sailing. He also realised that the time taken to
sail round Britain was too long for most people with family and business
commitments.
Birth of a Race
Thus was born (typically during a pub lunch) the
Triangle Race, taking from start to finish two weeks and taking place
every two years. The first race was held in 1984. Twenty seven yachts
took part and the course went from Falmouth to Crosshaven, in Co. Cork,
Ireland, to Morgat in Brittany and back to Falmouth.
The next race in 1986 saw two major changes that created the format that
exists today. First the Royal Torbay Yacht Club took over the organisation
of the racing and their enthusiasm and professionalism has been a major
factor in the event's subsequent success.
Secondly moving the start to Torquay also meant looking for a new French
destination. Once again with the Royal Cork Yacht Club (the oldest yacht
club in the world) an enthusiastic and capable partner was found in the
Club Nautique at Tréguier in Brittany. The hospitality offered by these
two clubs and by the Mayor and townspeople of Tréguier, has been a major
factor in drawing crews back for second, third and even sixth helpings.
Sixty-eight boats took part this year, racing for the first time on handicap
as well as boat for boat. It was a demanding event with alternating gales
and calms; a combination which has been repeated for most of the subsequent
Triangles.
The Triangle extends
In 1988 a fleet of seventy-seven boats took part,
establishing the race as a leader in the field of short-handed, long distance
races and almost unique in the Channel Handicap calendar.
1990 saw the race confined to monohulls only; since past experience showed
that the multihulls arrived in port days ahead of everyone else, thereby
breaking up the social spirit of the race. It also saw the biggest fleet
ever, seventy-nine boats competing in one of the toughest races yet, with
weather alternating between gales and calms with startling suddenness
and a competitor being run down in mid-Channel, fortunately without loss
to yacht or crew. More happily, the race also celebrated a wedding and
a fortieth birthday!
Where's the mark?
1992 saw the race get off to a good start when
the liner, The Queen Elizabeth II acted as the committee boat in Torbay;
believed to be the largest committee boat ever to start a race.
1994 again saw "unusual" committee boats when three Dutch mine
hunters were used, one being used as the windward mark. Since these vessels
are able to 'hover' in exactly the same spot for days on end, thanks to
modern science and computers, this was probably the most accurate start
ever.
1996 saw the entry limited to eighty boats and after some aggressive sailing
and partying the competitors announced it the best race yet.
Key for the Race
1998 saw an entry list of 50 boats, including an
ex-Admirals Cup 12 metre 'Victory'. Entries came from Ireland,  Gibraltar
and as far as Scarborough on the East Coast and Anglesey on the west.
It proved to be a demanding race encompassing many different weather patterns
and many different types of boat. The overall winner was a Sunfast 32.
During the stopover in Tréguier the Royal Torbay Yacht Club had the honour
of accepting, on behalf of the 'Trianglers', the Key to the town of Tréguier,
presented by their Mayor. This must be a unique occasion when a Club has
been presented with a Key to a town and one that the Royal Torbay are
justifiably proud of.
As the late Peter Byway, an Organiser of the Triangle Race for many years said, "Whatever
happens at the front of the fleet and among the prize seekers, the Triangle
is as much a philosophy as a race. Founded to encourage more ambitious
sailing in family cruising boats, it has become rather more serious minded
over the years, but we sincerely hope that, for all crews, it is the fun
of the whole experience, ashore and afloat, rather than the frisson of
the prizegiving which keeps them coming back year after year, to prove
that the Triangle must surely rank as the premier two-handed race in the
South West."
For further details please contact:
The Club Secretary
Royal Torbay Yacht Club,
12 Beacon Terrace,
Torquay, Devon TQ1 2BH
Telephone:+44 ( 0)1803 292006
Fax:+44 ( 0)1803 200297
or: admin@royaltorbayyc.org.uk
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