South coast boats dominate

Peter Morton wins the Keanes Jewellers Quarter Ton Perpetual Trophy at Kinsale YC's Sovereigns Cup Regatta

Cowes-based international yachtsman, Peter Morton has won the Keanes Jewellers Quarter Ton Perpetual Trophy at Kinsale Yacht Clubs bi-annual Sovereigns Cup Regatta. The four day series involved eight races, on principally windward leeward courses under the Old head of Kinsale. Wind conditions varied over the four days racing from 8 to 22 knots making for exciting racing. Kinsale puts its best foot forward for the 18 strong class with beautiful cloudless skies and high temperatures making for idyllic sailing conditions.

These beautiful little boats came in many shapes and sizes from the unique one-off Odd Job, which won the Harken ® PrixD’Eligence, to the fully IRC-optimised and refurbished Anchor Challenge which won the overall trophy. The fleet travelled from all over Ireland and the south coast of the UK making the class one of the closely observed at this 11 class event. This will no doubt increase interest in this already vibrant class locally.

The opening day saw the fleet on a windward-leeward course racing in 16-18 knots in a steep seaway under the direction of Donal McClement. The Cowes-based 'one-offs' established their dominance from early on with Class secretary’s Louise Morton's Espada, Rob Gray's Aguila and Peter Morton's Anchor Challenge swapping podium places. The standard of finish and presentation of these boats is a credit to their owners.

Thursday saw the class complete a coastal race with race officer Alan Crosby sending the 18-strong fleet on an eight mile beat to the appropriately named Daunt Rock buoy, close to the mouth of Cork Harbour. The 18-22 knot easterly made for a very lumpy sea as the fleet short tacked along the shore trying to get tidal relief in the strong Westerly flowing spring ebb tide. The initially daunting beat along the coast was all worthwhile as the fleet turned the weather mark and experienced an exhilarating run in ideal planning conditions 9 miles West to Sandycove Island at the mouth of Kinsale Harbour.

Friday and Saturday's racing were much more sedate affairs with windward-leeward racing in 8-10 knots. Yet again the top three English boats came to the fore, proving they are not mere one trick ponies. Irish boats doing well were Ian Travers’ Bandit, which won the Ron Holland Design sponsored prize for the lowest overall points scoring production boat prize, Ken Lawless’s Supernova, the Holland/O Brien/Kenefick partnership on Manzanita and Kieran Collins on the beautiful Tamborine.



At the prize-giving overall winner Peter Morton thanked Kinsale Yacht club for running a wonderful event in a fabulous location and indicated his intention to return in June 2011. Regatta Director Tony Kingston praised the visiting Quarter tonners for their commitment travelling to the event and paid particular reference to the Quarter ton class secretary, Louise Morton for her energy and enthusiasm in this regard and looked forward to their return. In appreciation for her efforts, Robert and Clair Bateman, both former Quarter Ton sailors very generously presented Louise with a framed picture of Espada from day one's racing.

Kinsale Yacht Club would like to thank all sponsors who supported the Quarter Ton class at Sovereigns Cup, in particular Keanes Jewellers Cork, Pig Bags, Harken, One Sails, North Sails Ireland, The Old Head Golf Club, and DOSCO the brush people.

The 2011 edition of Sovereigns’ Cup is scheduled to run from 22-25 June.