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Displaying items by tag: International Jury

A British yacht in the Rolex Commodores' Cup and one of Ireland's main rivals for the title has been penalised for breaking a Cup rule that limits the number of professional crew (Group 3) that may sail on each boat.

Quokka 8,  a class two entry, is part of Team GBR Red, the first of three Royal Yachting Association (RYA) teams in the competition on the Solent this week.

The team lies second overall to Ireland who have established a runaway lead in the five nation event.

The International jury found Quokka had exceeded the number of Group 3 sailors allowed.

The Cowes based Commodores' Cup is strongly Corinthian: only two Group 3 sailors  are allowed on the Class 1 boats and just one aboard Class 2 and 3 entries.

After a hearing on Monday evening, a 10% penalty was imposed on the top British yacht for the first four races of the series.

Quokka 8 is skippered by Peter Rutter, a former Commodore of the Race Organisers, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC).

Rutter is the team captain of GBR Red.

Quokka is currently at sea competing in the event's offshore race and is expected back in Cowes with the rest of the 30–boat fleet this afternoon.

After a recalculation of the overall points, to include the penalty on Quokka, Team GBR Red stay second behind Ireland but all that may change after the finish of the 180 mile race this afternoon.

The official Jury Decision is available to download below

Published in Commodores Cup

The Half Ton Class was created by the Offshore Racing Council for boats within the racing band not exceeding 22'-0". The ORC decided that the rule should "....permit the development of seaworthy offshore racing yachts...The Council will endeavour to protect the majority of the existing IOR fleet from rapid obsolescence caused by ....developments which produce increased performance without corresponding changes in ratings..."

When first introduced the IOR rule was perfectly adequate for rating boats in existence at that time. However yacht designers naturally examined the rule to seize upon any advantage they could find, the most noticeable of which has been a reduction in displacement and a return to fractional rigs.

After 1993, when the IOR Mk.III rule reached it termination due to lack of people building new boats, the rule was replaced by the CHS (Channel) Handicap system which in turn developed into the IRC system now used.

The IRC handicap system operates by a secret formula which tries to develop boats which are 'Cruising type' of relatively heavy boats with good internal accommodation. It tends to penalise boats with excessive stability or excessive sail area.

Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium. 

At A Glance – Half Ton Classics Cup Winners

  • 2017 – Kinsale – Swuzzlebubble – Phil Plumtree – Farr 1977
  • 2016 – Falmouth – Swuzzlebubble – Greg Peck – Farr 1977
  • 2015 – Nieuwport – Checkmate XV – David Cullen – Humphreys 1985
  • 2014 – St Quay Portrieux – Swuzzlebubble – Peter Morton – Farr 1977
  • 2013 – Boulogne – Checkmate XV – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1985
  • 2011 – Cowes – Chimp – Michael Kershaw – Berret 1978
  • 2009 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978
  • 2007 – Dun Laoghaire – Henri-Lloyd Harmony – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1980~
  • 2005 – Dinard – Gingko – Patrick Lobrichon – Mauric 1968
  • 2003 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978

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