Royal Southern YC Charity Cup Regatta - Day 1
by Louay Habib 9 Aug 2020 10:45 BST
8-11 August 2020
The Royal Southern Yacht Club August Charity Cup started on time today, Saturday 8th August. 75 boats enjoyed light airs racing in the Eastern Solent. Two racecourses were managed by PRO Stuart Childerley and Tanya Robinson.
Both race officers, and their teams, were applauded for providing good racing in light conditions. North Sails Regatta Coaching is very much part of the regatta. World class sailors Dave Lenz and Ronan Grealish were out on the water offering top tips and tricks via WhatsApp to all of the fleet.
Three IRC Classes (31 teams racing with a reduced crew)
Race winners for the first day of action in the IRC Classes were: Tony Mack's J/111 McFly, David Bartholomew's Cape 31 Tokoloshe III, David Franks J/112E Leon, Natalie Jobling & Tom Hayhoe's J/105 Mostly Harmless, Sam Laidlaw's Quarter Tonner BLT and Julian Metherell's Quarter Tonner Bullit.
Tony Mack's J/111 McFly leads IRC One, which boasts some of the Solent's finest performance yachts. David Bartholomew's Cape 31 Tokoloshe III is lying second after the first day and James Gair's Mills 39 Zero II is third.
"To be honest it was a relief to finally get back to racing," commented Tony Mack. "The McFly crew has been sailing together for years and we have really missed each other. Tokoloshe look like they will be difficult to beat in more breeze. We are really pleased with our results. At times we were more lucky than good and there is plenty of competition in this class."
In IRC Two, Simon Perry's J/109 Jiraffe leads the class. Jiraffe is very much a family boat. Simon and Rachel Perry race with their two children, Tom and Juliette. Family friends, James and Penny Walters make up the crew of six.
"This is not our first racing this season, we have competed in several longer distance races recently and that definitely helped as we have figured out how to race the boat with a smaller crew," commented Simon Perry. "Tom for example now does mast and main, which works well, and he is loving the additional role. It has been great to get out with so many boats. It is amazing how uplifting it is to be back in action. I have to say we were very lucky in the second race, but we will enjoy the moment and we are really looking forward to tomorrow."
In IRC Three, the lights airs proved ideal for the Quarter Tonners in the class. Sam Laidlaw's BLT and Julian Metherell's Bullit are tied at the top on equal points both scoring 1-2. Jim Prower's Quarter Tonner Theseus is third. Olly and Sam Love's SJ320 Frank 3 had a great day and is fourth, only on countback.
18 Strong J/70 Class with a limited crew
Charles Thompson's Brutus and Chris Taylor's EV Experts won races today. However, top of the scoreboard, with two second places, is James Peters and Jonathan Calascione's Calypso. Marshall King & Ian Wilson's Soak Racing, reigning Corinthian World Champion, is in second place after the first day. Two teams are just a point behind Soak Racing; Charles Thompson's Brutus, and reigning J/70 Open World Champion, Paul Ward's Eat Sleep J Repeat.
Etchells and XOD
In the Etchells Class, both of today's races were won by Malcolm Offord's The Plant Hunter. Shaun Frohlich's Exabyte scored a 3-2 to finish the day in second place, just ahead of Ante Razmilovic's Swedish Blue. In the XOD Class, Tim Harding's Calypso was today's winner. Peter Baines' Felix was second, and James Markby's Xpeditious was third.
VPRS Club Class (13 teams racing with a reduced crew)
Today's race in VPRS Club Class 1 was won by Mike Wallis' J/122 Jahmali. David Hitchcock's XP38 Red Five was second and Mike Rayward's Dufour 36 Stormcloud was third. In VPRS Club Class 2, Eros (Greig City Academy), skippered by Azat Ulutas was the winner. Jonty Sherwill's classic dayboat Cockleshell was second. 14-year-old skipper/driver Kai Hockley, racing Intro22 Riot, made it a special day for the Greig City Academy by also making the podium for the class.
All of the racing, race management and facilities ashore are organised in line with HM Government guidance and regulations on Covid -19. The regatta is raising money for charities Solent Mind and Hamble Sea Scouts. Racing at the Royal Southern Yacht Club August Charity Cup continues tomorrow Sunday 9th August.
Find complete results here
For more information visit royal-southern.co.uk