May 24, 2021
This past weekend we saw the latest action in the RORC Vice Admiral’s Cup. It has finally come to a conclusion after two days of racing in feisty conditions.
The last day of competition produced challenging conditions for the high performance classes. A gentle south-westerly wind with clear skies was replaced by rainsquall with over 20 knots of breeze.
The eight class winners in the event are: Niklas Zennström’s Rán, Rob Bottomley’s Sailplane 3, Glyn Locke’s Toucan, Sam Laidlaw’s BLT, Tony Mack’s McFly, David Richards’ Jumping Jellyfish, Russell Peters’ Squirt and Stephen Procter’s Xcellent.
The boat that won the 2019 edition of the Vice Admiral’s Cup, Rán, raised with victory once more. Niklas Zennström won four out of six races. Christian Hamilton & Guy Gillon’s Fast 40+ Khumbu was second and just a point ahead of Peter Morton’s Jean Genie.
“Winning the first round of the FAST40+ circuit was our aim towards our goal of winning the season,” said Rán’s Tim Powell. “I think the competition in the fleet is getting closer. Khumbu has most definitely found another gear in the twin rudder set up on Ino XXX makes the team very quick at certain angles.”
Sailplane 3 won the Performance 40 Class with a race to spare. Michael Blair & Stevie Beckett’s King 40 Cobra had a brilliant performance and finished the last race of the regatta earning the second spot in the podium. In third place, David Cummin’s Ker 39 Rumbleflurg was one point ahead of VME Racing’s Mills 39 Zero II.
“Sailplane is very much a team effort and we are delighted with our first win of the season against good opposition in the Performance 40 Class,” commented Rob Bottomley.
Sam Laidlaw’s BLT won the regatta of the Quarter Tonner Class. With winds over 20 knots, the last race was exciting for the Quarter Tonner class. In second place, Olivia Dowling’s Catch went ahead of Julian Metherell’s Bullit who finished third.
Regarding the HP30 Class, Glyn Locke’s Farr 280 Toucan was the winner of the category. Just as Rán in the FAST40+ Class they have retained the title they won in 2019. Just a point behind their rivals, Jerry Hill & Richard Faulkner’s Farr 280 Moral Compass came in second, while Jonathan Powell’s Farr 280 Peggy scored the third place.
In the J/111 Class Tony Mack’s McFly won after struggling against Chris Jones & Louise Makin’s Journeymaker II. In the J/109 Class we could see David Richards’ Jumping Jellyfish winning three races including the final race against Christopher Burleigh’s Jybe Talkin’.
Finally, in the SB20 class we saw Stephen Procter’s Xcellent winning by a big margin. Tom Neilson’s team came in second with an impressive final race at the competition. Lizzie Farrington’s Boomerang ended up in the third spot just one point ahead of Breaking Bod.
This ocean race mirrors the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race. During the Rolex Fastnet Race, boats will sail from Solent and down the south coast of England to the Fastnet Rock near the southwest of Ireland.
Then, the fleet has to travel to Cherbourg, in the north of France. With an increased distance of 695 nautical miles, the Rolex Fastnet Race proves to be one of the toughest offshore races in Europe. This competition is set to start on the 8th of August.
The Royal Ocean Racing Club continues its racing next weekend with the 230 nautical miles offshore Myth of Malham Race. Over a hundred boats are expected to start from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line. The competition starts on the 29th of May.
Images from the Royal Ocean Racing Club