Light conditions prove taxing

On opening day of the IRM National Championship

“The Vice Admiral’s Cup was good but this event is even better” was a comment voiced after the first day of the IRM National Championship held in the central Solent on Friday. A healthy fleet of 15 boats converged on the start line for the annual regatta.

A fickle 4 knot breeze proved testing for PRO Jamie Wilkinson and competitors alike. With a 310 degree opener and a south westerly anticipated the course was set accordingly. Instead of going right the wind shifted left and with some confusion about the windward mark and a ten to 15 degree swing the opening race was abandoned. Classes 1 and 2 were beginning to run out of water so a course was then set around fixed marks. The wind was still swinging but it proved a close race epitomising the IRM fleet.

The next attempt saw sixty percent of the fleet going left off the start. However, the right side proved the favoured. Audacious pulled out a good lead as the fleet settled into a bit of a procession. It proved a game of snakes and ladders as the likes of Tony Langley’s Farr 45 Atomic which had shown a clean pair of heels in the original race was then relegated to fourth. Audacious clocked the first win of the regatta keeping Rebel back in second with John Bainbridge’s Renaissance, a recent addition to the IRM fleet, in third. Olympic Laser sailor Paul Goodison was an added weapon onboard Renaissance.

Rebel notched up a 1,2 to lead Class 1 on the first day of the championship sponsored by Quantum-Parker and Kay. Exabyte 2 Jerry Otter gave the usual suspects a run for their money. Helming the Farr 45 Were Wolf he closed in third behind Audacious.

In the seven strong IRM Class 2 David Murrin’s Farr 40, 2XL overhauled Farrfalina in race one and closed the deal crossing the finish line just one second ahead of Nick and Annie Haigh’s Too Steamy. In the second race they were up with the Farr 45s, going fast and making good decisions till the wind died a few boat lengths before the finish.
Murrin, an avid supporter of IRM racing commented “its very interesting to think through the tactical problems particularly in light airs such as those we had today. This is very rewarding sailing”.

Too Steamy, true to her polished form clocked up a pair of bullets on corrected time.

Prizes and free beer drew the crowds to the Royal Southern Yacht Club after racing.

Standings after day one:

IRM 1
1. Rebel 3points
2. Audacious 6
3. Were Wolf 7
4. John Merricks 9
5. Renaissance 9
6. Cutting Edge 11
7. Atomic 11

IRM 2
1. Too Steamy 2
2. Victric 5
3. 2XL 6
4. Skipjack 7
5. Highlife 11
6. Farrfalina 11.5
7. Cacharaza 13.5