Royal Southern YC Charity Cup Regatta - Day 3
by Louay Habib 11 Aug 2020 06:34 BST
8-11 August 2020
A surprise breeze of approximately 15 knots defied the weather forecast to provide a magic Monday of racing. Day Three of the Royal Southern Yacht Club August Charity Cup was held in 30ºC of air temperature, with the fleet enjoying full-power upwind conditions and exhilarating downwind sailing.
The wind speed reduced during the afternoon but remained fairly stable in direction. Once again, the Royal Southern YC Race Committee were roundly applauded for making full use of the perfect conditions. Racing at the regatta concludes tomorrow Tuesday 11th August, and many of the classes are still undecided.
Three IRC Classes (31 teams racing with a reduced crew)
Race winners for the Day Three in the IRC Classes were: David Bartholomew's Cape 31 Tokoloshe III, Tony Mack's J/111 McFly, Simon Perry's J/109 Jiraffe, Mike & Susie Yates J/109 Jago, and Sam Laidlaw's Quarter Tonner BLT.
In IRC One, McFly still leads after six races, but Tokoloshe III is now just a point behind.
"Today the weather was more like Table Bay, Cape Town, which is where Tokoloshe III was designed for," commented David Bartholomew. "Conditions in the first race were good for us because we could get on the plane and get completely launched. However, the top mark is busy so it's an important area. Tokoloshe is a lot quicker than McFly downwind, but we also give her a lot of time, so we need to be going as fast as possible. It is all coming down to the last day, whoever wins that will win the class - it's as simple as that."
In IRC Two, overnight leader David Franks' J/112E Leon was absent today. Two J/109s are now battling at the front of the class. Jiraffe leads by two points from Jago and the two family sailed boats have plenty of previous rivalry. James Harayda's Sun Fast 3300 Gentoo is in third, only by virtue of countback.
In IRC Three, Sam Laidlaw's BLT has scored five straight bullets, and is hot favourite to win the class tomorrow. David Greenhalgh's J/92 J'ronimo scored two podiums today and moves up to second place. Wrestling for third, and just a point behind J'ronimo, are Ian Handley & Tim James' Mustang 30 Gr8 Banter and Olly & Sam Love's SJ320 Frank 3.
18 Strong J/70 Class with a limited crew
Paul Ward's Eat Sleep J Repeat scored a 2-1 today to take the lead in the J/70 Class after seven races. James Peters & Jonathan Calascione's Calypso are now four points off the lead in second. A 1-2 score for Chris Taylor's EV Experts has retained third, six points off the lead. These three teams have pulled away at the top of the J/70 Class, and barring an upset, will battle for the podium tomorrow.
XOD Class
Peter Baines' XOD Felix has a four-point lead going into the final day tomorrow. James Markby's Xpeditious has a great day and moves up to second in class. Rory Paton's XL scored 2-2 today to make the podium for the class.
"When you get it right, it is the most fantastic feeling," commented Felix's Peter Baines. "An X Boat is a hard boat to sail and get right. In the first race today, I couldn't get the boat to feel right, but in the afternoon race it all came alive, and we took off, that is the most fantastic feeling. In an X boat going the right way and getting the tide right matters so much, I think it is the epitome of one design sailing."
Etchells Class
In the Etchells Class, Shaun Frohlich's Exabyte is the new leader having scored a 2-3 today. Malcolm Offord's The Plant Hunter drops to second. Steaming up the rankings with two bullets today is Ante Razmilovic's Swedish Blue. Nicholas Stagg's China White is also in the hunt. Just one point separates the top four boats in the Etchells Class. Jake Hardman's young team racing Ziggy is just four points off the lead. The Etchells Class will be going to the wire tomorrow.
In today's sparkling conditions, I don't know if there is a nicer boat to sail," commented Exabyte's Shaun Frohlich. "An Etchells points really high and knifes through the waves and then you feel the power in the bare away at the top mark. The geometry of the boat and the sensitivity is fantastic. Racing an Etchells well is very gratifying, and there are good people in this fleet, and it is an absolute pleasure when the choreography works in such close proximity to others."
VPRS Club Class (13 teams racing with a reduced crew)
With five straight bullets Mike Wallis' J/122 Jahmali is dominating the scorecard in VPRS Club Class 1. Michael O'Donnell's J/121 Darkwood, racing double handed, is second just a point ahead of David Hitchcock's XP38 Red Five. There is also a close battle between Matthew Richardson's Dehler 44 AYAYA and Demian Smith's XP44 Simples, which are both tied on points for fourth.
"This regatta is fabulous," commented Jahmali's Mike Wallis. "It is a continuation of the club racing at the Southern over the last two months, so we have got friendly with the people in the VPRS class. We are very much enjoying the racing and the fabulous weather. The club organisation, on and off the water, has been brilliant. Winning five races is the testament to the versatility of the J/122; my wife and I were cruising in the West Country two weeks ago."
In VPRS Club Class 2, today's racing was a match race between two young teams from the Greig City Academy. Eros skippered by Azat Ulutas won both races from Riot, skippered by Kai Hockley. Through the Scaramouche Sailing Trust, many pupils from the Greig City Academy in North London have become a very welcome feature at sailing regattas in the Solent. Sixth Form Headteacher, Jon Holt shadows the boats as they race.
North Sails Regatta Coaching was once again out on the water offering advice for all the fleet in between races. Today's experts were Neil Mackley and Graeme Willcox. 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 concludes tomorrow Tuesday 11th August.
For more information visit www.royal-southern.co.uk.
Full Results available here.