Finally we have a boat launched and sailing, the yacht in the pictures was launched last Wednesday (these pics are from brief sea trials) and won Class zero at the weekend at the Red Funnel, the second yacht is in the South of France being commissioned, the third is almost ready to leave the factory a fourth is mid-build.
När det visade sig att det skulle bli nollgradigt och snöstorm började man tvivla på den inplanerade annandagsaktiviteten: våtslipning!
Jag trodde att jag och min besättning skulle baxna ganska snabbt, men som vanligt underskattade jag dem. Efter en hel dags hårt arbete är nu botten superslät. Man kan aldrig ge sin botten för mycket kärlek!
Många var ute och tittade till sina båtar, men få verkade utföra något rejält arbete. Undantaget var ett par med en Maxi 909 som polerade friborden i full snöstorm.
Under kategorin “finlir” har jag också kört epoxi på alla kanter på durkarna. Lite överkurs, men nu fick jag ju också koll på hur allt ser ut därunder.
Känns bra att vara på gång på riktigt. I veckan skall nya seglen hämtas. Det kan nog bli segla av i år också…
Trots blåst, blockad (franska fiskare spände en vajer över hamninloppet för att protestera mot något) och allmänt kyligt väder så lyckades Spi Ouest ändå genomföra ett antal race.
Och vi kan glädja Bengt Falkenberg med att en First 45 verkar ha vunnit i IRC 1 överlägset med 4 spikar. Inte illa!
IRC 1 (4 race – 40 båtar)
1. LADY COURRIER, G. Trentesaux, 1.1200, FIRST 45
2. PAPREC RECYCLAGE, S. Neve, 1.0970, A 40RC
3. OXYGEN, A. De Cock, 1.0730, IMX-40
4. AON, J. Pelletier, 1.0980, X-43
5. ARIA, A. Mercier, 1.1010, A 40RC
6. JIVARO, Y. Grosjean, 1.1150, J/133
7. BATISTYL, C. Legloahec, 1.0930, A 40RC
8. J LANCE 4, D. Le Moal, 1.0910, J/122
9. OPTIM’X, F. Lang, 1.0690, X-40
10. PINTIA, G. Borjd, 1.1340, J/133
IRC 2 (4 race – 46 båtar)
1. TIGER, T. Sanchez, 1.0420, JPK10.9
2. FELIX, G. Prietz, 1.0570, X-40
3. TCHOUK TCHOUK NOUGAT, E. Danel, 1.0290, A 35
4. MUSIX, P. Baetz, 1.0380, GRAND SOLEIL 37
5. LANN AEL, D. Gaudoux, 1.0420, JPK 10.9
6. VHSM, H. Vincent, 1.0480, GRAND SOLEIL 40
7. ZIZOU BUMAYE, F. Valraud/G. Gomiot, 1.0380, GRAND SOLEIL 37
8. JONATHAN, T. Camus, 1.0290, A 35
9. CHENAPAN, G. Caminade, 1.0320, A 35
10. BATISTYL, Fy. Escoffier, 1.0360, A 35
IRC 3 (3 race – 44 båtar)
1. CHARRETTE III, F. Bourderau, 0.9990, SUN ODYSSEY 40
2. XAOSSA, Jm. Carpentier, 1.0060, SWAN 42
3. GRAND PRIX, D. Pedersen, 1.0050, X 34
4. PARSIFAL, D. Dardot, 1.0080, SPHINX 33
5. PARTOUCHE, Jp. Kelbert, 1.0010, JPK 9.60
IRC 4 (3 race – 34 båtar)
1. COTE VOILE-DUFOUR-YACHTS, Je. Mazars, 0.9890, DUFOUR 34
2. ENVIRONEMENT-ON-LINE.COM, J. Amedeo, 0.9830, X-332 Sport
3. SUPERSONIC, A. De Pommery, 0.9900, JPK 960
4. MATAMOUF OF RECOUCOU, D. Lucas, 0.9780, CONS AMATEUR
5. BRITTANY DRIZZLE, B. Fournier Le Ray, 0.9660, HALF TONNER
IRC 5 (3 race – 65 båtar)
1. GENERAL TAPIOCA, P. Pilate, 0.9570, HALF TONNER
2. HOOD YACHTING GEAR, M. Le Gal, 0.9100, SURPRISE
3. CYRIEL, M. Duran, 0.8900, FIRST 29
4. SUPER U COMBRIT, P. Barnabe, 0.9520, SUN FAST 32
5. BEST COMPOSITES DECATHLON LORIENT, X. Tinel, 0.9360, PROTO FINOT
J/105 (6 race – 12 båtar)
1. J’ADORE, S. Blanchard
2. COLLET PLATS CUISINES, V. Peltier
3. ASTREE III, D. Dupuis
4. J CROIS PAS, P. Tostivint
5. MISS J, F. Guillemot
Övriga klasser
747 OD (12 båtar)
BMW Sailing Cup (10 båtar)
Class Sun Fast 3200 (12 båtar) – Norrmännen på OPTIMILA blev 7:a.
Classe Promo (12 båtar)
First Class 7.5 (23 båtar)
First Class 8 (17 båtar)
Grand Surprise (53 båtar)
J/80 (78 båtar) – J. Bergh med ENJOY blev 27:a.
Mumm 30 (18 båtar)
Open 7.50 (19 båtar)
På handikapp vann Subic Centennial (Sydney 46 @1.177), tvåa blev Jaywalker (Ker 11.3 @1.153) och trea Full Metal Jacket (Corby 43 @1.217).
Vi väntar på rapport från Peter Backe ombord på FMJ. Nedan några fräcka foton på dem. Alla foton: ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi (återigen kanonbra bilder från Carlo)
Efter massor av vind, och inställt både fredag och lördag, fick man till sist kört ett par race. Zennström vann sin klass och Irländarna på Silk Glove och Blondie IV var heta. Många båtar verkar dock ha packat ihop redan på lördagen… Foto: Rick Tomlinson.
Red Funnel Easter Challenge IRC 0
1. IRL3939, Silk Glove, Ker 39, Colm Barrington, 1.131
2. GBR945R, Fever, Swan 45, Stuart Miller, 1.184
3. GBR1545R, Poppy of Portland Marina, First 45, David Lancefield, 1.136
4. GBR998R , Freddie Freeloader, Farr 45, Eamonn O’Nolan, 1.227
5. GBR2045R, Alice II, Farr 45, Simon Henning, 1.233
Red Funnel Easter Challenge IRC 1
1. IRL3008, Blondie IV, King 40, Eamonn Rohan, 1.116
2. IRL2007, Jump Juice, Ker 37, Cornor & Denise Phelan, 1.098
3. GBR236R, Erivale III, Kerr 39CR, Jerry Otter, 1.118
4. GBR8410R, Premier Flair, Elan 410, Lucy Macgregor, 1.081
5. GBR6503N, Sailplane, Prima 38, Rob Bottomley, 1.079
Red Funnel Easter Challenge IRC 2
1. GBR7031T, Sanguma, Ker 31, Chris Walmsley, 1.036
2. GBR7712R, Zarafa, HOD 35, Peter Scholfield, 1.031
3. GBR73R, Salvo, Beneteau 34.7, Peter Morton, 1.012
4. GBR3938R, Steady Barker, Bavaria 38, Michael Brough, 1.038
5. GBR8901R, Jahmali, J/109, Mike Wallis, 1.033
Red Funnel Easter Challenge IRC 3
1. GBR4992R, Jack Sparrow, J/92S, Paul & Marie-Claude Heys, 0.987
2. GBR4365T, Dean and Dyball Enigma, MG346, Ian Braham, 0.950
3. GBR9395R, Elusive, Elan 333, Jackie & Robert Dobson, 0.981
4. USA5454, Santana, Capo 30, Myles Perrin, 0.936
5. GBR6993T, Manaru, Beneteau First 31.7, Tony Dickin, 0.961
Spectacular Solent racing – Red Funnel Easter Challenge
Day three of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge, organised by the RORC, produced some quite stunning Solent racing with plenty of spills and thrills. Finally, after two days of frustration, racing got under way and it was well worth the wait. Louay Habib took a trip out to the combat zone to witness the action.
CLASS IRC SZ RACE 1: Niklas Zennstrom’s TP52, Ran, lit up the Solent, nailing the start and perfectly anticipated a massive wind shift, laying the top mark spot on. A text book bear away set and they were literally flying downwind, at over twenty knots, winning race one by over five minutes on corrected time.
Robert Lutener & Martin Elwood’s, TP52, Henri Lloyd Cutting Edge was second. Close behind, in third place was the young talent of the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme, racing a TP52 for the very first time.
Stuart Robinson’s stunning TP52, Stay Calm, was well placed until gear failure halted their progress. “The bow-sprit came clean off. At the moment we are not exactly sure what caused the failure,” commented Stay Calm crew, Lisa McDonald.
RACE 2: The all star crew on TP52, Ran, showed their class, winning by an impressive margin of over six minutes. Serguei Shevtov’s, Russian TP52,Valars, was second; a great recovery after forestay problems forced them to retire from the first race. Henri Lloyd-Cutting Edge was third, on corrected time.
Overall winner of IRC Super Zero was Niklas Zennstrom’s, Ran with Rob Lutener & Martin Elwood’s, Henri-Lloyd Cutting Edge, second and VOLVO RYA Keelboat programme third.
“It was tough out there today for all of the boats and the race committee,” commented Ran navigator, Steve Hayles. “There were a lot of variables on the race course. The wind speed varied from 12 to 25 knots and the wind direction was never really stable. We made a few mistakes today, as I am sure everybody did but Easter being so early this year has been a big factor. On Ran we have only managed a few training days prior to the event and I am sure that we will improve as the season goes on. It is great to have these boats in the Solent; it is a fascinating and challenging place to race.”
CLASS IRC 0 RACE 1: Colm Barrington’s, brand new Ker 39, Silk Glove, won her maiden race in a very competitive class by just under a minute,on corrected time. Barrington’s fellow Irishman, Anthony O’Leary was at the helm and yacht designer Jason Ker was part of the crew, wearing his trademark red trousers.
A superb performance by Simon Henning’s Farr 45, Alice II, saw them claim second place by 36 seconds on corrected time, just ahead of an all star crew on Klaus Diederich & Grant Gordon’s, Swan 45, Fever.
RACE 2: David Lancefield will be delighted with his first win on his First 45, Poppy of Portland Marina, winning the last race of the day from Colm Barrington’s Silk Glove. Klaus Diederich & Grant Gordon’s, Fever.was in third place.
Silk Glove won the class overall and boat captain, James Hynes is pleased with her first run out; “It’s a great boat and there is more speed in her to come. We have had a couple of teething problems as you often do but, all in all, we are delighted to come to the Red Funnel Easter Challenge. As always, it a great start to a campaign.”
Second in class was Klaus Diederich & Grant Gordon’s, Fever with David Lancefield, Poppy of Portland Marina, a respectable third.
CLASS IRC 1 RACE 1: It was nip and tuck as the top four boats finished within seconds of each other on corrected time. Eamonn Rohan’s Mills 40, Blondie IV and Jerry Otter’s Ker 39, Erivale III had a photo-finish; with the brand new, Blondie IV, winning by one second, on the water and by seven seconds, on corrected time. Rob Bottomley’s Prima 38, Sailplane, was close behind in third place.
RACE 2 Conor & Denise Phelan’s Ker 37, Jump Juice, had a great result in race two, beating Eamonn Rohan’s Blondie IV by just 21 seconds on corrected time. Jerry Otter’s Erivale III was in third place.
Eamonn Rohan’s Blondie IV, won the class overall from Conor & Denise Phelan’s Jump Juice with Jerry Otter’s Erivale III in third. These three boats will all be competing for the Rolex Commodores Cup later this summer. “It was a great shake out for us today, to get rid of some of the winter rust.” Commented Blondie IV crew Ian Travers. “It was exactly the kind of training to start off the season.”
CLASS IRC 2 RACE 1 Chris Walmsley’s Ker 31, Sanguma won the first race of the day, beating Peter Schofield’s HOD 35, less than a minute on corrected time. Mike Wallis helming his J/109, Jahmali was third.
RACE 2 Peter Morton’s Beneteau 34.7, Salvo, had a mixed day after a collision in race one. In race two, Salvo was a mere second ahead of Peter Schofield’s Zarafa, on corrected time to finish the day on a high. Chris Walmsley’s, Sanguma was third.
Class winner was Chris Walmsley’s Sanguma, but only on count back from Paul Schofield’s, Zarafa. Peter Morton’s, Salvo was third.
CLASS IRC 3 RACE 1 Paul & Marie-Claude Heys racing their J/92s, Jack Sparrow, revelled in the heavy weather winning race one by over a minute. Ian Braham’s MG346, Dean and Dyball Enigma was second and had a great tussle on the water with Jackie & Robert Dobson’s Elan 333, Elusive which was third.
RACE 2 Paul & Marie-Claude Heys, racing Jack Sparrow, made it a perfect score for the day winning race two by a comfortable margin, Ian Braham’s Dean & Dyball Enigma were second .Jackie & Robert Dobson, racing Elusive, were third. “I thought we had a great mix of racing today.” Commented Paul Heys. “The first race was all about spotting the big wind shift early on and then trying to keep in clear air amongst a compressed fleet, especially out of the bad air from larger boats. Race two, we managed to get a good start and due to a round the cans course, we managed to stay in clean air for most of the way around. All in all, a great day’s sailing!”
After the conclusion of racing, a prize giving was held at the Cowes Yacht Haven events centre. Shirley Anderson, a director of Red Funnel Ferries officiated at the prize giving and commented; “Red Funnel are delighted to be associated with such a well run and splendid spectacle in the Solent and we are so pleased that so many competitors have taken part. If only the weather had been better we could have had a perfect event. We are proud to be associated with this event and look forward to welcoming everybody next year.”
Last but not least, a mention for the RORC Race Team, many of whom are volunteers. Especially, Fiona and Andy Bristow who provide Committee Boat, Atlantis, without charge. Without all their efforts, events such as the Red Funnel Easter Challenge could not happen.
A full race report and results can be found at: http://www.rorc.org RORC: Tel. 020 7493 2248, E-mail info@rorc.org.uk Provisional Overall Results Series Place, Sail No, Boat, Type of Boat, Owner, (Handicap, Series Points, Race 1, Race 2) Class IRC SZ 1. GBR528R, Ran, TP52, Niklas Zennstrom, (1.369, 2, 1, 1) 2. GBR952R, Henri Lloyd – Cutting Edge, TP52, Robert Lutener & Martin Elwood (1.36, 5, 2,3) 3. GBR76R, Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme, TP52, Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme (1.358, 7, 3, 4) Class IRC 0 1. IRL3939, Silk Glove, Ker 39, Colm Barrington (1.131, 4, 1, 3) 2. GBR945R, Fever, Swan 45, Stuart Miller (1.184, 6, 3, 3) 3. GBR1545R, Poppy of Portland Marina, David Lancefield (1.136, 8, 7,1) Class IRC 1 1. IRL3008, Blondie IV, King 40, Eamonn Rohan (1.116, 3, 1, 2) 2. IRL2007, Jump Juice, Ker 37, Conor & Denise Phelan (1.098, 5, 4,1) 3. GBR236R, Erivale III, Ker 39CR, Jerry Otter (1.118, 5, 2, 3) Class IRC 2 1. GBR7031T, Sanguma, Ker 31, Chris Walmsley (1.036, 4, 1, 3) 2. GBR7712R, Zarafa, HOD 35, Peter Scholfield (1.031, 4, 2, 2) 3. GBR73R, Salvo, Beneteau 34.7, Peter Morton (1.012, 6, 5, 1) Class IRC 3 1. GBR4992R, Jack Sparrow, J/92 S, Paul & Marie-Claude Heys (0.987, 2, 1, 1) 2. GBR4365, Dean & Dyball Enigma, MG346, Ian Braham (0.95, 4, 2, 2) 3. GBR9395R, Elusive, Elan 333, Jackie & Robert Dobson (0.981, 6, 3, 3) Other Prizes awarded: Red Funnel Easter Challenge Prix d’Elegance Trophy: Yacht: Colm Barrington’s Ker 39 Silk Glove (IRL)
I was a member of the crew on Cream. It was a blast racing these boats. I really appreciate PJ inviting me to race and I look forward to more Gunboat events whether I get to participate or just read about it. It’s a unique boat and a unique sailing group (very fun, very laid back).
To clear up a couple of questions, we were probably sailing upwind at 9-9.5 knots in the flatter water and 8.5-9.0 knots in the big waves. Downwind in race 1 we were doing 17-21 knots. Our top speed for the day was on the long downwind from the top of the island back to finish area, we hit 23.7 knots on one fantastic surf. Our tacking angles were around 95 degrees in the big waves and closer to 90 in the flat water. I think at least 60% of Race 1 was upwind so total distance sailed was probably around 45 miles. Our elapsed time was 3:56:21 so that’s about an average speed of 11.5 knots which seems about right given the conditions.
Our bowman and spinnaker trimmer Cali Sanmarti is a very experienced TP 52 sailor. He loves the TP 52’s but also loved the relaxed and fun racing on the Gunboat. It’s still an apples vs oranges comparison between full on racing machines and boats primarily designed for cruising (in races 2 and 3, we raced with our dinghy hanging in the davits, we had no choice!). I think the most competitive racing sailor would enjoy a weekend racing a Gunboat (in fact I believe PJ is marketing the boats to folks who are somewhat tired of the “grand prix” scene and want to go cruising with comfort and ease and have the option to go racing, both at double digit boatspeeds). BTW, that is Cali trimming the spinnaker from the back of the boat in the CNN video using the dinghy davit winches which were really too small for the task. We used a bag launched A-sail as the chute and had a roller furling screacher for tighter AWA’s (the boat was setup to trim the screacher from the forward cockpit winches). The boat is not really setup for the bag launched A-sail and I see Peter recommending an upgrade to the owner.
In terms of multi performance, I think the most impressive multi was True North, the Seacart 30. In the first race, they were very conservative and used a double reef in their mainsail and did not have a great day. On the 2nd and 3rd days, they shook out the second reef and were the fastest boat in the entire fleet around the course in both races. Very impressive considering this 30′ boat looked very small next to us and especially a boat like Hexe. Maybe if I win a lottery I can buy one of those but I’ll have to settle for a Corsair for now.
It was very cool having Shirley Robertson on board for Race 1. After we finished, PJ gave her the helm and we had the screacher flying on a broad reach. She very quickly had us ripping along at 19 knots. I was trimming the screacher and I turned around to see her with a look on her face telling me that this was one cool machine to be able to rip along this fast steering from the comfort of cherrywood paneled main salon!
Några av oss med 35-40 fotare, med Jonas Granhed i spetsen, har planerat in en träningshelg 24-25/5 på Marstrand.
Just nu är det 6-8 båtar (First 36,7, X-35, Bavaria 35 Match, J/109) som är intresserade och vi håller på att kolla om GKSS kan bidra med bojar, båtar och kanske lokaler (kan ju vara en aktivitet för att få fler båtar till EM i augusti). Vi drar också i olika trådar när det gäller coachning och videofilmning på havet.
Det blir en bra genomkörare för att träna starter, manövrar och få ordning på allt inför säsongen. Dessutom borde man kunna få till nån kul aktivitet i land…
Låter det som en bra aktivitet? Dra ett mail till Jonas eller lägg en kommentar, så återkommer vi med mer detaljer inom kort.
