J Class at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez - Day 5
by J Class Association 2 Oct 2015 20:27 BST
26 September - 4 October 2015
After a slightly disappointing opening to their Les Voiles de Saint Tropez regatta on Monday when they started poorly, the J Class Ranger crew came back today to make a big impression on the IRC A fleet today after making probably the best start in the 27 boat fleet.
Neither the torrential rain nor the regatta's enforced three days lay off seemed to dilute the Ranger attack. From their pin end start and excellent, short first beat they were able to settle into an engaging boat for boat battle within the most competitive and closely matched posse of five or six 80-95 footers.
In the blustery 14-20kts NW'ly breeze the J Class was able to profit from their upwind speed and height against the more modern boats – complemented by some astute tactical calls from Murray Jones – and then hanging in nicely on the two sail reaching legs and the one broad kite reaching leg. They lost very slightly when the breeze eased on the final miles into the finish line off Saint Tropez harbour but in general it was a course which allowed them to capitalise on that start and first leg.
The 24 miles triangle course started in choppy seas and 15-17kts of breeze. Ranger's afterguard were quick to recognise the port end bias to the start line and found a nice lane, below Rambler 88 – the scratch boat, and above My Song and the V70 Lady L – which were later to the line. That allowed Ranger to get around the first top mark in fourth position, just losing out to two boats at the buoy. On the first reaches the duelling My Song (Nauta 84), Windfall (Reichel Pugh SWS 94) and Odin (Swan 90) managed to get ahead of Ranger as did the green hulled Briand designed Inoui.
Ranger got back through Inoui on the next beat, holding right and sailing faster and higher in conditions perfect for the J Class which was revelling in the relatively flat water and brisk breezes. On the next tight reach My Song, winner of Monday's first and only race thus far, held low and flew a tight luffed gennaker. Whether it added enough extra speed proved academic since it went in the water on the takedown and cost them several minutes. Only on the final stages of the last beat did they get back through Ranger.
At the finish line, at the end of long one sided beat, Ranger was still in the mix with this group, Windfall and Odin just a few hundred metres ahead, and My Song finishing just ahead of the leading J Class. Even sodden wet, bedraggled and just a little chilly, the smiles on the Ranger crew told the story of a good race for them, which skipper-helm Erle Williams said would result in a top three finish in the class.
"It was a good race. The breeze was oscillating and it got a little light into the finish, but it was a good race despite the weather. We got a really good start recognising the bias at the pin end. Rambler tacked off and got away but then we were in a nice group of boats which reach a little better than us. It was a fun race." Recalled Murray Jones, Ranger's tactician.
Skipper/helm Erle Williams added: "We had a good day. We hung nicely with the big boats on the reaching legs and on the run. We did well on the first up wind. The J likes the pressure and smooth water and does well. We had the right sails on. The last beat went a little light for us on the right, but we hung in there. But it was pretty damp, unusual for Saint Tropez, but it did not harm a good race."
Shamrock had a steady race and the crew are looking forward to Saturday's J Class showdown. Mike Toppa said "We have had a wet, wild and windy day. We've traded J Class wins with Ranger so far in the regatta and it will be winner take all tomorrow!"
Results at lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr/en/category/resultats-du-jour