Right at the start of the RORC IRC National Championship, Niklas Zennstrom’s TP52, RÁN, stamped their authority on the competition. Three straight bullets put them at the top of the leader board in Super Zero after the first day’s racing.
“It was very shifty out there,” commented RÁN skipper, Tim Powell. “The first race was affected by the transition zone between the south easterly gradient breeze and the south westerly sea breeze and Ado Stead did a great job on tactics. The race course was moved further to the east for the next two races and we got some solid south easterly breeze. Halfway through the second race, we had a consistent 15 knots of breeze. This is the first time we have been racing in the Solent since last August and it is good to be back; it is a challenging place to race. Obviously we are satisfied with today’s results but we are here to defend a national title and we won’t be taking anything for granted.
After three races, RÁN leads IRC Class Super Zero with Lutener & Elwood’s TP52, Cutting Edge, in second and Peter Harrison’s Farr 52, Chernikeeff 2, crewed by the UK Sailing Academy, lying third.
In IRC Class Zero, there was some very close racing with big gains and losses made at mark roundings, but Michael Bartholomew’s King 40, Tokoloshe, had a great day on the water with two wins and a second.
After three races, Pieter Vroon’s brand new Ker 46, Tonnerre of Breskens, is lying in third place and will be delighted to have won race 2 by some margin. John Shepherd’s Ker 46, Fair Do’s VII, lies third and after the first day is still very much in the hunt, but a tenth in the last race, may prove costly.
David Dwyer’s Mills 39, MarinersCove.ie, is top of the class in IRC One but the Irish entry realised from the first gun that they are in for a close battle with Peter Rutter’s Corby 36, Quokka. The ex-RORC Commodore had a cracking start, as Quokka won the first race but MarinersCove.ie fought back to win the last two, in better breeze. John Patterson’s J 122, Panacea, is also very much in the frame, despite not winning a race today, consistent results leave them just three points off the lead.
“We are delighted to be here for this event and it is part of our build up for the Rolex Commodores’ Cup for next year and we have Andy Beadsworth at the back, coaching for this regatta. It is only the third time we have been out this season and the crew work was a bit rusty in the first race and it is the first time that this crew had been together.”
In IRC Class Two, Steve Northmore’s A35, Waterjet could only manage sixth in race one, but reveled in the stronger breeze to win the next two races to lead the class. By comparison, Chris & Hanna Neve’s First 34.7, No Doubt won the first race, but two fourths knocked them back to second overall. Beating the other First 34.7s will be a lift to the husband and wife team from Lymington. Jonty Layfield’s J 39, Sleeper, recovered from a poor first race to post two podium finishes and claim third place in class after three races.
In IRC Class Three, Peter Morton’s Quarter Tonner, Anchor Challenge was in devastating form, winning race one by a good margin. However Adam Gosling’s Corby 30, Yes! corrected out to win race two. Paul Kelsey’s Quarter Tonner, Runaway Bus was the victor in the last race of the day. Anchor Challenge leads the class, but will have to carry an 11 point discard for the rest of the regatta, after not finishing the last race of the day. Runaway Bus is just a point behind with Yes! in third on count back. IRC Class Three is proving to be a highly competitive division.
Three races are scheduled for tomorrow with the forecast of 12-15 knots from the east south east, conditions could be ideal providing more highly competitive racing for the RORC IRC National Championships.