Please select your home edition
Edition
Melges 15

in Advance Half Ton Classic Cup at Royal Nieuwpoort Yacht Club - Days 2 & 3

by Half Ton Classics Cup 8 Aug 05:25 BST 5-9 August 2024

2Farr on course for the cup, but vintage half-tonners barely impressed

Day 2

The start of Tuesday's two scheduled races were postponed due to lack of wind. A little after noon, the starting gun was fired. Just like Monday, the wind conditions were just enough in terms of speed and stability. The concentration of the crew was severely tested in this slow waltz. Marc Vanoogten, helmsman of the Général Tapioca (BEL 7548): In some areas, the wind dropped and you lost precious meters and even places, he said. One or two knots of wind more or less make a lot of difference in these conditions.

Patrick Boardman (2Farr / IRL2296) was surprised at the start and found himself blocked in the pack.. Nevertheless, the crew managed to turn the deficit into a 4th place in the about an hour-long race. Tom and Jeremy Florizoone of the Red Cloud (BEL 8500) took the lead and finished first. Which later, at the award ceremony of the day, resulted in a smashing applause and the symbolic day prize: a winch handle.

While the teams with the most modernized boats were fighting in the vanguard, a similar battle was unfolding just behind them. But here with the authentic half tonners, the vintage fleet. Jaques Lemaire of the Waverider surprisingly came out with a 9th and a 5th place, making him the leader in the Vintage class. Jacques completely refurbished the 1977 wood/epoxy boat in a few weeks' time, especially for this cup. His team was formed only ten days ago. But with his coaching leadership, based on years of competitive sailing, the chemistry works. "Even before I sailed Vaurien as a trainee, I had already sailed with the Waverider," he adds, underlining the personal connection with this Laurie Davidson design.

Day 3

On Wednesday three races were held, two windward / leeward tracks and a round the cans of about 8.5 nautical miles. Current, waves and 10 - 12 knots of wind ensure that the race is different.

Harmony by John Swan (IRL 1484) is the first to cross the finish line. Followed by King One (Espen Kamperhaug, NOR 18094) and 2Farr (Robert O'Leary, IRL 2269). In the Vintage class it is Farther Bruin's turn to finish first. Coxswain Charles-Edouard Poncelet explains: "With our relatively low rating, we prefer long courses to short ones, because we can take more advantage of them." Their ambition to finish within the first ten in the overall ranking came a step closer.

You would think that this would bring the final chances of winning the optimized Half Tonners more clearly into sight, but that is not counting on the wind. In the 'Round the cans', the breeze climbs up to 20 knots. Concorde (Bror A Berge, FRA 19292) goes around the windward buoy seconds ahead of the 2Farr to achieve the best result so far. The Norwegian sailing friends on the Concorde finish 4th.

Harmony (IRL 1484) finishes third. Marc Vanoogten is happy. "The Géneral Tapioca needs wind. With gusts of up to 20 knots, we shoot into high gear. Of course, we had to work for it, but for us second place is not a real surprise." Because there were too many false starts, the race control showed the Black Flag before the final start gun. First Red Cloud seemed to be disqualified, but after a jury hearing the Belgians where granted 'redress', what keeps them in the third place over all.

Results after Day 3:

1: 2Farr / Robert O'Leary / IRL 2269 / 12.2 pts
2: King One / Espen Kamperhaug / NOR 18094 / 16.8 pts
3: Red Cloud / Tom Florizoone / BEL 8500

Vintage
7: Waverider / Jacques Lemaire / BEL 3486 / 45.2 pts

Series
14: Hullabaloo XV / David Evans / GBR 108 / 73.1 pts

Related Articles

in Advance Half Ton Classic Cup Day 1
Irish 2Farr not distracted by light winds With barely 7 knots of wind, the first round of the In Advance Half Ton Classics Cup 24 got under way. The windward-leeward track was located east of the port entrance. Posted on 6 Aug
in Advance Half Ton Classic Cup starts tomorrow
30 Half Tonners from 7 countries set to race From Saturday 5 until Friday 9 August, Royal Nieuwpoort Yacht Club (KYCN) will receive 30 Half Tonners from seven countries for their annual In Advance Half Ton Classics Cup. Posted on 2 Aug
Half Ton Classic Cup preview
Looking forward to exciting sailing as event returns to Royal Nieuwpoort YC After six years, the Half Ton Classics Cup returns to Nieuwpoort. The event is the annual highlight for this sailing yacht class with an impressive pedigree, both technical and sporty. Posted on 19 Jul
13th Half Ton Classics Cup Preview
The fleet is set for Hankø Yacht Club, Norway in August On Monday 14th August, which is exactly 19 days from today, the 13th Half Ton Classics Cup will start in Hankø, Norway. Posted on 26 Jul 2023
Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 overall
Checkmate XV makes it a victory double Checkmate XV and her crew of owner David Cullen, Darragh O'Connor, Nin O'Leary, Jonathan Sargent, Aidan Beggan, Niki Potterton and Frank Rothchild of the Howth Yacht Club claimed a well deserved overall victory in the 2018 Half Ton Classics Cup Posted on 24 Aug 2018
Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 day 4
Long Inshore Race brings challenges and changes Day four's Long Inshore Race at the Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, proved to be both an incredibly closely fought battle between the top boats and a game changer in the overall standings. Posted on 24 Aug 2018
Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 day 3
What a difference a day makes! After the grey skies and light winds of the first two days, day three of the Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 in Nieuwpoort brought a distinct change of pace for races four to six in the series. Posted on 23 Aug 2018
Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 day 2
Per Elisa consolidates lead in Nieuwpoort, Belgium Light airs continued to plague the Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 on day two of the regatta where, in spite of the often extremely fickle conditions, Race Officer Paul Charlier and his team did a superb job to achieve races two and three of the series. Posted on 22 Aug 2018
Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 day 1
Per Elisa and Waverider draw first blood The opening day of the Half Ton Classics Cup in Nieuwpoort, Belgium brought overcast skies, fickle light winds and a big challenge for both the competitors and the Koninklijke Yachtclub Nieuwpoort's Race Committee. Posted on 21 Aug 2018
Half Ton Classics Cup 2018 preview
International entries attracted to Nieuwpoort, Belgium The Half Ton Class makes a welcome return to Nieuwpoort in Belgium for the 2018 Half Ton Classics Cup, which will take place from 20 to 24 August 2018 and will be hosted by the Koninklijke Yachtclub Nieuwpoort. Posted on 9 Aug 2018