Bumper fleet for IRC Nats

Fantastic line up of over 80 yachts for landmark inshore series starting Friday

A top class fleet brimming with world class sailors from all over Europe and as far away as Hong Kong will assemble in the Solent this weekend and there should be some cracking racing, right through the five classes. Seven races are scheduled over three days of racing around tight Solent courses starting Friday. Class splits are as yet undecided but looking at the fleet there should be some high-octane action.

Whilst the spotlight will focus on the Rolex Commodores’ Cup competitors who will use the RORC IRC Nationals as a warm up for their big event next month. The hottest competition will probably be between the TP52’s that assembled in the Solent this winter. These lightweight racing machines packed with America’s Cup sailors, all have similar speed and the racing should be close and very exciting.

In the early season sparring, Niklas Zennstrom’s, Ran seems to have the edge over Charles Dunstone’s, Rio. Whilst Stuart Robinson’s Stay Calm is a proven competitor and Lutener & Elwood’s Henri Lloyd Cutting Edge has been improving all season. Joining the Solent based boats and fresh from his victory in Miami is Colm Barrington in Flash Glove. This Irish based team will be keen to make up for the gear failure, in last years windy Nationals that denied them a possible class win.

Gery Trentesaux is back to defend his class win last year but this time in his new First 45, Lady Courrier. John Shepherd’s Ker 46, Fair Do’s VII and Nick & Annie Haigh’s DK46, Dark and Steamy, have both shown good form around the cans this season. From Ireland, Tim Costello’s new Mills 43, Tiamat, is a past winner of the event. Mike Greville’s Ker 39, Erivale III is having a great season having won both the Myth of Malham overall and the Morgan Cup race in class. All of these boats will be competing for the Rolex Commodores’ Cup next month. Costello’s previous yacht is now in the hands of Tony Buckingham and renamed Ngoni. This will be a return to competitive racing for Buckingham with a large number of his Farr 40 team from A Bit of a Coup back racing together.

Expect a close battle between some more Rolex Commodores’ Cup contenders; Eamon Rohan’s Mills (King) 40, Blondie IV and Denise & Conor Phelan’s Ker 37, Jump Juice and also Kees Kaan’s Grand Soleil 43, ROARK.

Two other King 40s are entered: Alan Hogg's Argie Bargie and Micheal Bartholomew's Tokoloshe.

Last year’s overall champion is back, Tim Spalding’s First 40.7, Love Shack. They will do well to emulate their perfect string of seven bullets from last year. They could be racing against some top opposition including Andrew Allen’s, Mills 37, No Naked Flames and last year’s class winners; Eamon & Alan Crosbie’s Ker 32, Teng Tools (Voodoo Chile). Both of these boats have travelled to the event from Ireland. Hong Kong Etchells sailor, Jamie McWilliam is competing in the J/109, Yeoman of Wight and Chris Walmsley’s Ker 31, Sanguma is a consistent performer.

Jackie and Robert Dobson’s Elan 333, Elusive, are previous class winners and have had titanic battles with Mike Tattersall’s modified X-99, Electra and Ian Braham’s MG346, Dean & Dyball Enigma. Also entered from the East Coast is David Lees’ High Tension 36, Hephzibah, which has shown great form offshore this season

This year’s IRC Nationals organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club is arguably the most impressive fleet since the competition began. The stage is set for a glorious championships. Last years event was characterised by very strong winds and tough sailing conditions and the RORC will be hoping for a good mix of wind and weather conditions to decide the RORC IRC National Champion.

All competitors will be welcome at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, the Island Sailing Club, Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club and the Royal London Yacht Clubs. For details of accommodation and dining facilities please contact the individual club. Additional social arrangements will be published in the Sailing Instructions.

Entry list as of 5 June ( entries now top 84 we are informed):

	Sail No	Name	IRC	Crew	Skipper / Owner	Type
1	GBR93R	Rio	1.373	18	Richard O'Farrell	TP 52
2	GBR528R	Ran	1.367	18	Niklas Zennstrom	TP52
3	GBR952R	Henri Lloyd - Cutting Edge	1.36	18	Robert Lutener & Martin Elwood	TP52
4	GBR76R	John Merricks II	1.358	18	Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme	TP52
5	GBR4908R	Pace	1.257	18	Simon Tate & Johnni Vincent	Marten 49
6	GBR4321	Oystercatcher XXVI	1.217	13	Richard Matthews	Humphreys 42R
7	GBR95R	Dark & Steamy	1.21	15	Nick Haigh	DK46
8	GBR46L	Shockwave	1.209	15	Nick Lutte	DK46
9	GBR4601L	Fair Do's VII	1.185	15	John Shepherd	Ker 46
10	NED7842	Holmatro ING Real Estate	1.175	14	Lennard van Oeveren	Club Swan 42
11	GBR 16614	Novus Arca	1.169	17	Tony McBride	First 50
12	GBR9402R	Audacious	1.167	12	Jon Pegg	Dubois 40
13	GBR1294R	Ngoni	1.146	12	Anthony Buckingham	IRC40
14	GBR1545R	Poppy of Portland Marina	1.135	15	John Dean	David Lancefield
15	FRA27967	Jivaro	1.13	14	Yves Grosjean	J133
16	IRL3008	Blondie IV	1.121	12	Eamonn Rohan	King 40
17	BEL4701	Moana	1.12	15	François Goubau	First 47.7
18	FRA35547	Lady Courrier	1.12	15	Gery Trentesaux	First 45
19	GBR11N	Apollo	1.12	14	Nigel Passmore	J133
20	GBR236R	Erivale III	1.118	12	Mike Greville	Kerr 39CR
21	GBR 51R	Argie Bargie	1.117	12	Allan Hogg	King 40
22	GBR5940R	Tokoloshe	1.117	13	Michael Bartholomew	King 40
23	NED4343	Roark	1.114	13	Kees Kaan	Grand Soleil 43
24	Bel 3939	Allard	1.108	12	Rudi Floridor	Sydeney 39
25	FRA 27909	Courrier du Coeur	1.106	14	Marc de Saint Denis	First 44.7
26	FRA34645	Aria	1.101	12	Bernard Moureau	Archambault
27	GBR851R	Cracklin Rosie	1.1	12	Brian Wilkinson	Corby 40
28	GBR560	Simply the Best	1.098	13	Philip Wood	Grand Soleil 43
29	IRL2007	Jump Juice	1.098	10	Conor & Denise Phelan	Ker 37
30	GBR1429L	British Soldier	1.095	12	Army Sailing Association	Michael Lawrence
31	GBR6665R	Cajou	1.091	12	Mark Chatfield	IMX 40
32	GBR7640T	Cracker	1.091	12	Stephen Heppell	IMX 40
33	GBR79R	Software Mistress	1.086	10	Ian Maclean	Ker 36 Custom
34	GBR8410R	Premier Flair	1.081	12	Jim Macgregor	Elan 410
35	GBR6501N	White Knuckles	1.075	10	Dominic Hurndall	Prima 38
36	IRL789	Rosie	1.074	9	David Nixon	Corby 36
37	GBR5991T	Prime Suspect	1.074	9	Dave Richards	Mills 36
38	IRL11137	No Naked Flames	1.074	9	Andrew Allen	Sllim 37
39	GBR8522R	Love Shack	1.073	12	Tim Spalding	First 40.7
40	GBR1236L	Quokka 7	1.071	9	Peter Rutter	Corby 36
41	GBR7383R	Puma Logic	1.068	10	Sailing Logic	Philipe Falle
42	GBR7382R	Jaguar Logic	1.066	10	Sailing Logic	Reflex 38
43	GBR704R	TFS Philosophie IV	1.064	12	Nicolas Gaumont-Prat	First 40.7
44	GBR7080T	Tarka	1.064	12	Guy Prest	First 40.7
45	GBR 4070L	Incognito	1.061	12	Paul McNamara	First 40.7
46	GBR4206T	Sleeper	1.059	12	Jonty Layfield	J39
47	GBR9735T	Vortex	1.051	9	Tim & Sophie Harrington	X-35
48	IRL3232	Teng Tools (Voodoo Chile)	1.051	8	Eamon & Alan Crosbie	Ker 32
49	GBR9470R	Iskareen	1.048	8	Robert Napier	Corby 33
50	IRL3550	Exaltation	1.048	10	David McFarland	X35
51	GBR7031T	Sanguma	1.036	8	Chris Walmsley	Ker 31
52	FRA34634	Prime Time	1.035	9	Daignaux Huillard	A35
53	GBR7735R	Waterjet	1.035	9	Steve Northmore	A35
54	GBR979R	Malice	1.032	9	Mike Moxley	HOD 35
55	GBR1405R	Elaine	1.031	9	Mike Bridges	Elan 37
56	GBR7712R	Zarafa	1.031	9	Peter Scholfield	HOD 35
57	GBR9570T	Jaguar of Burnham	1.031	9	Adrian Lower	J109
58	GBR9359R	Sir Duck Tion	1.031	9	Roy Morgan	HOD35
59	HKG1242R	Yeoman of Wight	1.031	9	Jamie McWilliam	J109
60	GBR5109R	Designstar 2	1.03	9	Roger Phillips	J109
61	GBR362T	Extra Djinn	1.026	9	Neville Hodkin	X362 Sport
62	GBR6895T	Xcitable	1.021	9	Peter Hodgkinson	X362 Sport
63	GBR73R	Salvo	1.012	8	Peter Morton	First 34.7
64	GBR8534R	Jostix	0.996	8	Nicholas Over	J92s
65	GBR8853T	Trumble Too	0.995	14	Neil Brailsford	Bavaria 44
66	GBR9716R	Hot Rats	0.995	8	S G (Robbie) Robinson	Humphreys 30
67	GBR 8500R	Brightwork	0.994	8	Bob Baker	X332
68	NED118	Winsome	0.992	13	Harry Heijst	S & S 41
69	GBR9395R	Elusive	0.98	8	Jackie & Robert Dobson	Elan 333
70	GBR9887	Electra	0.963	8	Mike Tattersall	X-99 MOD
71	GBR3851	Hephzibah	0.956	8	David Lees	High Tension 36
72	GBR4365T	Dean and Dyball Enigma	0.95	9	Ian Braham	MG346
73	GBR221T	BlackBerry ® with Catch 22	0.918	7	David Rider	Humphreys Custom 27
74	GBR9999T	ASAP	0.917	7	Alexander Christie	Quarter Ton
75	GBR6880R	Alegre	0	0	Andres Soriano	Mills 68
76	IRL12345	Tiamat	0	0	Tim Costello	Mills43