RORC Summer Series Race 2 - Trials and tribulations of the odd couple

Ross Hobson's Sea Cart 30 Buzz - RORC Summer Series Race 2 © Rick Tomlinson

The Royal Ocean Racing Club Summer Series continued on Saturday 15th August with the second race of the four-race mini-series. Light airs resulted in an extra-ordinary match race between two unlikely opponents.

Victory went to Ross Hobson's Sea Cart 30 Buzz. Andrew McIrvine's Ker 39 La Réponse failed to finish the race, literally a boat length short at the time limit. La Réponse would have won the race overall under IRC, as no other team completed the course.

From the Squadron Line start the fleet made slow progress west with the tide, but at Hurst Narrow's the wind literally shut down. "As it was high tide, we could get over the Shingles which gave us the edge," commented Buzz owner Ross Hobson.

However, Andrew McIrvine's La Réponse was first to the Peveril Ledge Buoy off Swanage. "This is only our second race in the new boat, and we are really pleased with the upwind performance," commented Andrew McIrvine. "When we rounded the top mark, we calculated that we were going to be well inside the time limit and most of the fleet were not going to make it. Buzz got ahead of us downwind, but morale was good on board La Réponse."

"With only a seagull for company, who was making a mess of Buzz's sails, we drifted along," commented Ross Hobson. "Whilst we were concentrating on trim and helm, it's also an opportunity to discuss plans ahead. We are intent on getting Buzz to the Caribbean, taking on the RORC Caribbean 600, and time permitting several Caribbean regattas."

Buzz crossed the finish line on the shortened course at North Head, taking Line Honours and the MOCRA win on corrected time. Meanwhile La Réponse was struggling to keep making progress. The rest of the fleet, out of time, had retired. "As we approached North Head Buoy the wind was less than a knot and we were against the tide, literally a boat length from the finish." commented Andrew McIrvine. "We will probably remember this race more because of not finishing than if we had won. On a positive note the boat performed extremely well in the light."

The RORC Summer Series continues with Race 3, scheduled to start from the RYS Line on Saturday 22nd August.

For online entry and more information: www.rorc.org

Andrew McIrvine's Ker 39 La Réponse. - RORC Summer Series Race 2 - photo © John Burnie