Positions decided

Ramsgate Week concludes with perfect day of racing in 15 knots

Conditions for the final day of Ramsgate Week were ideal for sailing, with a steady southerly 15 knots of wind. The day saw two races, where competitors battled it out for the coveted Gold Cup as well as completing the IRC East Coast Championships (supported by RORC).

As part of an initiative with the North Sea Challenge Series, Ramsgate Week has been well supported by boats from France, Belgium and Holland. Class 0

There were three boats in Class 0 all fighting for the pin end of the line in both races, with Peter Harrison's Farr 52 Chernikeeff 2 getting clean air, followed by Richard Matthews' Humphreys 42 Oystercatcher VVXI, who have sailed well all week. Chernikeeff 2 needed to win both races to draw the week, but was pipped to the post by Oystercatcher XXVI.

IRC Class 0 East Coast Championships Series:

1. Oystercatcher XXV1 (Richard Matthews)
2. Chernikeeff 2 (Peter Harrison)
3. Cracker (Stephen & Carole Heppell)

Class 1

Line honours in the first race were taken by the ST370 Holding Pattern, helmed by Matthew Vincent from Dolphin Sails. Axel De Cock's IMX 40 Oxygen shortly followed. Quokker (crewed by local yachtsmen from the Royal Temple Yacht Club, and supported by Rob Dyer from North Sails) was third over the line, but won on corrected time.

IRC Class 1 East Coast Championships Series:

1. Quokka (John Barrett & Paul Woodward)
2. Holding Pattern (Richard Matthews & Matthew Vincent)
3. Alegria (Carl Sabbe)

Class 2

The Dutch Stern 33 A Boen started both races aggressively ahead of the First 34.7, Marine Diffusion Dunkerque. However Marine Diffusion Dunkerque were faster upwind, beating A Boen over the line in both races. Richard Sparrow's J/92, Who's To Know, were closely following in third place.

IRC Class 2 East Coast Championships Series:

1. Marine Diffusion Dunkerque (Philippe Bourgeois)
2. A Boen (Johan Bol)
3. Who's to Know (Richard Sparrow)

Class 3

John Allen's X-302 Antixand Tony & Chuffy Merewether's Sun Fast 32 Amazon each gained a first and a second, with the French boat Waverider taking third place.

IRC Class 3 East Coast Championships Series:

1. Antix (John Allen)
2. Amazon (Tony & Chuffy Merewether)
3. Cheeky Monkey (Graham Jones)

Class 4

Scallywag's run of wins came to an end as the Robert Leggett's Monkey Business and Mark Dale & Bob Booths' Reaction led the fleet to each take line honours. All of the Class 4 boats enjoyed the steadier winds and demanding courses.

IRC Class 4 East Coast Championships Series:

1. Monkey Business (Robert Leggett)
2. Scallywag II (Peter Pearson & Barry Smith)
3. Reaction (Mark Dale & Bob Booth)

IRC East Coast Championships Overall

1. Oystercatcher XXVI (Richard Matthews)
2. Chernikeeff 2 (Peter Harrison)
3. Quokka (John Barrett & Paul Woodward)

Impala National Championships

The Impala National Championships were decided on results extracted from the IRC Class 4 fleet, scoring on level rating. Although Monkey Business won the IRC Class 4, due to their handicap rating, Scallywag were able to beat them on the water to become the 2008 National Champions. Six Impala's competed, three from the host club ( Scallywag, Reaction and Volante), Monkey Business from Haven Ports Yacht Club, Goodbye Mr Chips from Medway Yacht Club and Kudu Nsanga, who trailed their boat all the way from Pembrokeshire Yacht Club.

1. Scallywag II (Peter Pearson & Barry Smith)
2. Monkey Business (Robert Leggett)
3. Reaction (Mark Dale & Bob Booth)

Gold Cup

The Gold Cup was decided on an aggregate of the two races for the day. Three boats finished with equal points, but the Corby 36 Quokker won on countback for being first overall in the second race. Chernikeeff 2 was second overall with Oystercatcher XXVI taking third place.

1. Quokka (John Barrett & Paul Woodward)
2. Chernikeeff 2 (Peter Harrison)
3. Oystercatcher XXV1 (Richard Matthews)


Class 5

The cruiser classes completed their series with two races, both of which took them to the B2, off Pegwell Bay inside the Brake Sands. The Dufour 34 Havoc took line honours in both races to win the series, with David Howes' Escape and Hans Schnitzler's Bravado gaining a second and third in the first race. Bravado and Stephen Jones' Mirage took second and third respectively in the second race.

Cruiser Class 5 Series:

1. Havoc (Peter Richardson)
2. Sidney II (Lance Stevens)
3. Bravado (Hans G Schnitzler)

Class 6

Kenneth Lees' Sigma 35 Rush continued her winning streak, gaining a first place in both races, with Mallard and Peridot taking second and third respectively.

Cruiser Class 5 Series:

1. Rush (Kenneth Lees)
2. Mallard (Howard Bates)
3. Peridot (Douglas Hack)

Next year, Ramsgate Week will take place over 10-15 August (to be confirmed).