Ancasta IRC South West Championships at Flushing Sailing Club - Overall
by Dave Owens 10 Jul 10:11 BST
29 June - 1 July 2018
Jalabeano leads off the line during the Ancasta IRC South West Championships © Ian Jakeways
The final day of the Ancasta IRC South West Championships hosted by Flushing Sailing Club started with a rare phenomenon for this summer of rain but fortunately none of the predicted thunder and lightning.
The morning precipitation killed off the early wind leading to a short postponement but Race Officer Jack Penty and his team enjoying the flatter sea conditions sensibly decided to start racing within the Carrick Roads.
The decision had been made in consultation with the fleet to run two windward/leeward races and these were held in less than 8 knots of breeze. In Class 1 Insatiable helmed by Tim Cunliffe scored two firsts to take the overall Class win from Jalabeano, the J92 of Martin & Samantha English with Sean Koeller's recently purchased Joyride taking third place after a hard night in Falmouth on the Saturday.
In Class 2 with all to play for, Antix the X302 of John Allen from Whitby Yacht Club took a second and a first to win the Class on 8 points followed by John & Jane Hick on Rampage with a first and an expensive sixth to come second in Class with 13 points. Mel Sharpe on the Half Tonner Demolition scored a fourth and a second to hold onto third place. Within Class 2 three Sigma 33s battled for bragging rights and the Class Plate which was won by Excelle owned by John Fox and Toby Claridge. Class 3 was the domain of Chris Jelliss on A Little Trifle taking the Class win with two firsts on the day from the GK24s of Wilkie, Bob Chapple and Popincoota owned by Alan Grose.
Managing Director of Ancasta, Simon Boot presented the prizes at the Clubhouse after racing with a packed audience following the traditional Cornish cream tea – cream on top of course. Overall and very popular winner of the 2018 ANCASTA South West IRC Championships was Antix owned and helmed by John Allen who sails down to the west country every year from his sailing base of Whitby taking home a generous voucher from Spinlock, champagne and a good bout of Yorkshire pride.
So all in all a great championships enjoyed by all in a range of wind speeds and challenging sea conditions on the first two days out in the Bay. Competitors and sponsors alike all complimented the Event Director, Bob Chapple and Flushing Sailing Club on hosting a great and well managed event.