Panthera in the chocolates

At the IRM National championship

Of the 11 boats that have entered the championships six are Farr 45s and with a handicap range of only four points they will be competing virtually on level terms. At the top end of the ratings is Benny Kelly's TP52 'Panthera's on 1.232 and at the other end, 180 points lower, is Rob Goddard's 'Farr 40 Farrfalina. It will be interesting to see over the next three days how these differences pan out.

For the first race Royal Southern's P.R.O. Tony Lovell set a course that sent the fleet to Gales HSB as the windward mark before a long run back to Burgess Salmon. David Murrin helming the Farr 40 2XL tried a daring entry to the start line from the Committee boat end. He was early by a couple of seconds and found himself with Panthera powered up below and Werewolf' close to windward and nowhere to go. By the time he was clear to return to the start line the fleet was long gone. Panthera was clear ahead at the top mark and continued to build her lead during the successive legs to complete the course in just under 90 minutes. Behind her Jerry Otter on Werewolf got the better of the other Farr 45s to finish seconnd on the water and take the race on corrected time.

As the fleet was finishing their first race the wind moved a little more to the southwest and increased to about 15 knots. The course was changed dramatically for the next race. Prince Consort was the first mark and then the run was to North Ryde Middle to allow for the changing tidal flow.

At the start Werewolf was sent the wrong side of the IDM and had to go round the committee boat but this didn't seem to lose her much time. Most of the fleet followed Panthera to the right but Atomic (Tony Langley) stuck to the left hand side and it paid. They came in to the top mark in second place, behind Panthera.

Over the next couple of legs the positions stayed more or less the same. Behind the pack of Farr 45s 2XL was still in touch. After a beat back to West Ryde Middle the fleet came back to the north shore and Farrfalina and Windsong (Huw Evans & Stuart Bowen-Davies) were side by side going around Fastnetinsurance at the end of this run. By this time Panthera had rounded the next windward mark and, with the wind lessening, changed down to a lighter weight kite. Amongst the Farr45s the team on John Merricks (RYA Volvo) had headsail problems on this beat, lost a lot of time and came into the top mark behind 2XL. Atomic was just ahead with Werewolf closing and pressure still from both Cutting Edge (Robert Lutener & Martin Elwood) and Rebel at the finish line. Rebel later lost a protest for an incident at Prince Consort. Panthera had built up enough of a lead to take the corrected win and 2XL stayed close enough to claim second place on handicap.

The championship continues over the next two day