Yachting Monthly Triangle Race - Leg 1 Update
by John Roberson 15 Jun 2016 23:50 BST
12-24 June 2016
Gary Heward and Russell Hawkins sailing a Maxi 1100, Amylou, have won the first leg of the Yachting Monthly Triangle race on handicap. The pair from Marchwood Yacht Club in Southampton finished at 17:40 on Tuesday, taking 51 hours, 40 minutes for the leg.
Australian father and son pair Mark and Walter Hipgrove took second place overall in their Sunfast 3600, Mister Lucky, edging out rivals Chris and Corky Rhodes in the same design of boat, due to a rating advantage.
The two Sunfast 3600s also took first and second places in Class 1, while Amylou won Class 2, with James Moore and Philip Pryor in a Contessa 32, Katisha, winning class three and finishing fourth overall.
The Australians are from Brisbane in Queensland and represent the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, while the Rhodes duo are from Exmouth's Exe Sailing Club.
It was a punishing opening leg to the race from Torquay to Kinsale, with nine retirements from the 29 strong fleet that started. Race director David Rayment commented, "without doubt this has been the most demanding leg ever."
He described it a very stormy leg, with crews experiencing knockdowns and many breakages, with some having to steer by hand from Land's End to the finish, and others logging over 400 miles.
The double-handed race, which started in Torquay at 14:00 on Sunday, takes the fleet first to Kinsale in southern Ireland, then on to Treguier, Brittany in northern France, before returning to Torquay.
The second leg starts from Kinsale at midday Friday 17th June, with the final leg leaving Treguier at 17:00, Wednesday 22nd June.
See results at trianglerace.co.uk