Ramsgate Week 2015 - Day 1: Round the Goodwin Sands

The first race of the Ramsgate Week series was scheduled as the Round the Goodwin Sands. Historically, this event has seen close racing over a course of around 38Nm in length and stretching around the ever changing shape of the treacherous Goodwin Sands off the East Kent coast. This year with forecast wind strengths of 40+knots, the Race Officer wisely restricted the racing to a course west of the Goodwin Sands along the Kent coast, with opportunity to shorten course in the event the forecast became reality. With the SW winds starting between 17 – 25 knots and heavy rain storms passing through the region, the weather conditions were to test both yachts and crews to their limit in this shortened 24Nm race.

25 yachts racing within the IRC handicap system in 7 classes based presented themselves to a committee boat for staggered starts with slowest boats Class 5 yachts away first and Class 1 yachts last. The start was approximately 1 Nm offshore and as with many years previously, the Class 1 yachts were the most aggressive starters and strongly challenged for the best positions at the pin end of the start line, with yachts crossing very close on opposite tacks on the line and heading towards a turning mark at the Brake buoy. With rapid hoists of their colourful spinnakers, they made the 8Nm run NNE towards the Elbow buoy just off the North Foreland with many yachts showing good speed and some surfing on the increasing wave sizes. Once round the Elbow they hardened up for a foul tide beat back SW to the South Brake buoy. On this leg with increasing wind and rain and visibility deteriorating, there were many retirements from gear failure and crew exhaustion with only 18 yachts reaching the finish.

Results: (top three)

IRC Overall
1. 8764 Buccaneer – Peter Pearson & Mike Lilwall, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 2:55:58 hours
2. 9596 Slingshot - Rod Oates & Gavin Magee, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 2:58:46 hours
3. 2187 Stiletto – John Barrett & Paul Woodward, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 3:00:29 hours

IRC Class 1
1. 9596 Slingshot - Rod Oates & Gavin Magee, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 2:58:46 hours
2. 2187 Stiletto – John Barrett & Paul Woodward, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 3:00:29 hours
3. 2186 Principessa - Andy Beaumont-Hope, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 3:11:27 hours

IRC Class 2
1. 8764 Buccaneer – Peter Pearson & Mike Lilwall, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 2:55:58 hours
2. 9700 Only Magic - Richard Sparrow, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 3:04:48 hours
3. 1597 Ickle Jura - Kevin Moll, Haven Ports Yacht Club – 3:05:58 hours

IRC Class 3
1. 2701 Red Legend – Roger & Matt Green, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 3:09:32 hours
2. 6540 Didgeridoo – Steve Stokes, Royal Temple Yacht Club – 3:10:11 hours

Cruiser Class 5
1. 659 Mallemok, Danny Besse, VVW Schelde – 3:18:27 hours
2. 1284 Mallard, Howard Bates, Rye Harbour Sailing Club – 3:19:04 hours
3. 4530 Rush, Ken Lees, Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club – 3:21:00 hours

The Ramsgate Week continues every day for the remainder of the week. For further details take a look at the website, www.ramsgateweek.com, or see our Twitter and Facebook accounts.