Red Funnel Easter Challenge Overall

Competitive fleet enjoy good breezes on final day of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge

Crews racing on the third and final day of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge were relieved when yesterday's near gale force winds gave way to more pleasant conditions today, enabling them to start race 5 of the regatta in brisk force 4-5 North Easterly breezes.

Two races were completed today and although there were several retirements in all classes following yesterday's strong winds, over 60 boats completed the final day of the regatta. These included Lucy MacGregor and her under 18 crew aboard the Elan 333 Panache.

The breeze dropped slightly throughout the afternoon and the sun came out to provide good racing conditions for the final day of the regatta and with two 4th places in races 5 and 6, John Shepherd's Kerr 11.3 Fair Do's V, still managed to take the trophy for overall IRM class winners, three points ahead of Mark Heeley's GBR25 and last year's winners, Nick and Anne Haigh's Too Steamy. Shepherd said: "Racing for us today was not so good as the other two days but overall, it was good fun and a great regatta. The organisation has been fantastic and the sailing has been good with varied conditions."

Winning the IRC Super Zero and Zero class ahead of Chernikeef, who came in 2nd with Wisc 3rd overall, Kit Hobday and his crew on Bear of Britain commented: "I think this regatta is probably unique in its type in the world as a training regatta, which is definitely what we use it for. We were trying out new crew and one or two new sail configurations. The courses have been superb and the race management very good. Generally the RORC races are probably the best run regattas in Europe."

Glenn Bourke, Chief Executive of the Volvo Ocean Race was racing on board IRC1 overall class winners Exabyte 2, the IMX 40. After collecting the Red Funnel pewter trophy he said: "We are pleased, it was hard out there yesterday and a few boats blew out but we managed to do quite nicely. The regatta was well run, the courses were good and our crew confidence grew over the weekend so I was pretty happy really."

The two First 40.7's, Fastwave II and Royal Blue Addict followed in the overall positions in this class, taking 2nd and 3rd place.

Overall winners of IRC2, Tim Harrington's HOD35 Capitali$m also said: "It was hard work out there. Yesterday was good fun but it was the first time for about two years that we have been out in lots of breeze so it was challenging."

IRC3 overall winners, Stuart Broughton's Penultima were 3 points ahead of Sareema after a 4th and 3rd place in today's races. He said: "We had descent breezes and we thoroughly enjoy it all. This is our first main regatta of the season and we were 3rd last time and 1st this, so that was good news for us."

There were 6 protests underway from today's racing, including one lodged by Philippe Bourgeois of the yacht Giselle of Course, who unfortunately retired from the race with serious damage, following a collision with the X-362 Alchemist.

After a successful three-day regatta, the crews of the winning boats from today's two races were presented with the customary Easter egg prizes. Overall winners in all classes were awarded special pewter tankards by Red Funnel's Marketing Director, Olive Glass who commented: "We are delighted to be associated with this long-running regatta and support it as part of our on-going commitment to sailing."

Another special trophy to be awarded at the RORC Annual Dinner in December by Red Funnel includes the perpetual Red Funnel Easter Challenge Prix d'Elegance Trophy. Glynn Williams' Swan 45, Wisc was voted the lucky winner and will receive the trophy in London later this year. They were also the winners of a new trophy presented by Nautor's Swan to the Overall highest place Swan in the regatta.

Complimentary drinks during the presentation were courtesy of Red Funnel Ferries and certainly encouraged a large number of competitors to attend the final ceremony before heading off back to their home ports for the remainder of the Easter holiday.

Summing up the regatta this year, RORC's Racing Manager, Janet Grosvenor commented: "The weather this Easter has give us an amazing amount of variety for crews to deal with, so it's really been a big shakedown. This particular regatta has been running now for a number of years and we have gradually seen the level and standard of racing within the fleet rise. When we started out, it was very much a fun, tuning regatta but now we see more and more of the strong competitive edge of racing coming through. This is very good news for both the Red Funnel Easter Challenge as an event and of course, the sport of sailing itself."

Coach Jim Saltonstall, who ran the post race de-brief sessions also summed up the regatta: "In my opinion the majority of the sailors here at the event have coped well, in fact some of them have coped with it very well. I think from being in a 10-12 knot scenario to running into 30-35 knots has given everyone a very good cross range of weather, sea state and wind direction, it's all been there. They have had it all to battle with and most of the sailors have said they will be back to take part in the regatta again next year."

Overall Results:

Other Prizes & Trophies:

• Red Funnel Easter Challenge Prix d'Elegance Trophy: Yacht Wisc, Glynn Williams, Swan 45 - (To be awarded at the RORC Annual Dinner in Dec)
• Nautor's Swan Trophy - Overall highest place Swan in the regatta: Yacht Wisc, Glynn Williams, Swan 45