Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this latest sailing news. Ed
Being a training regatta, complete with on-the-water coaching led by Jim Saltonstall and supported by the North U Regatta Services team from the USA, the RORC Easter Challenge, sailed off Cowes, began on Good Friday with some practice starts. Then the wind shut down for two hours. Eventually a 6-8 knot south-east wind established allowing just one race to be held.
In IRC One it was twice Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup winner Anthony O’Leary aboard his latest Antix, a turboed Ker 40, that came out on top with a pleased James Gair skippering the Cowes Race School’s Mills 39 Zero II second.
Overseas competitors
Whilst the majority of yachts competing were British, three were from the Netherlands including the de Graaf family’s Baraka GP.
This boat finished mid-class in IRC One and this came as no surprise to elder son and jib trimmer Dirk, since they haven’t sailed the boat at all since AAM Cowes Week last August!
IRC Two
In IRC Two, it was Simon Henning’s Mumm 36 Alice that came out winner and in IRC three Intention from the Netherlands won the class. Quarter Tonners came out tops in IRC Four with Sam Laidlaw’s Aguila and William McNeill’s Illegal Immigrant finishing first and second respectively.
Special guest coach
One special guest coach for this RORC regatta was Volvo Ocean Race skipper, America’s Cup helm and North Sails President, Ken Read who supported coaches Chuck Allen and Andreas Josenhan of North U Regatta Services.
Read will be in the UK this season now that North Sails is owned by a UK-based investment group. He will be competing at the Royal Yacht Squadron Bicentennial Regatta and will be skippering Jim Clark’s line honours-hunting 100ft racing maxi Comanche in both the Transatlantic Race and in the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Day two
A stiff northerly breeze gave the second day of the RORC Easter Challenge more of a Winter feel, rather than a Spring one. An early start and the shifting 15 knot winds that built towards 20 knots were enough to hold four races, making up for Friday’s one.
In IRC One Anthony O’Leary’s Antix, was the runaway leader, having won all but one of the five races held so far. In IRC Two, Simon Henning’s Channel Islands-based team on Alice, led from Peter Morton’s JND 35, Salvo. However winner of Saturday’s first two races was the X40, Xinska, of Cowes-based superyacht designer Bernard Olesinski and skippered by Rupert Morgan.
In IRC Three, David Franks’ IRC Nationals-winning Strait Dealer, duplicated Antix’s score with three wins and a second.
Severe holing
It was just as close in IRC Four with Sam Laidlaw’s Aguila holding a three point lead over David Lees’ High Tension 36, Hephzibah. Sadly the other Quarter Tonner competing, William McNeill’s Illegal Immigrant, was severely holed during a port-starboard incident two minutes into Saturday’s first race and was forced to retire.
Unfortunately the wind failed to materialise on the Solent on Sunday and at 1130 BST, Principal Race Office Stuart Childerley announced an end to the regatta.
Champion Antix
Winner of IRC One was Anthony O’Leary’s Antix (pictured). One of the regular crew was O’Leary’s Olympic Star sailor son Peter. Antix has a full season planned, culminating in the Rolex Fastnet Race.
IRC Two was won by the 20 year old Mumm 36, Alice. Simon Henning and his crew from Guernsey are regulars at the RORC Easter Challenge and over this weekend beat Peter Morton’s JND 35, Salvo to class honours.
As results from Saturday’s racing played a big part in the overall results it was David Franks’ IRC Nationals-winning JPK 10, Strait Dealer, which claimed the win in IRC Three.
Finally, IRC Four was claimed by Sam Laidlaw’s Quarter Tonner, Aguila ahead of David Lees’ High Tension 36, Hephzibah.
Image: © With kind permission of Paul Wyeth
