Richard Matthews wins at Vattenfall Ramsgate Week

Strong winds mark conclusion to the regatta

Strong gusting winds, building throughout the day met competitors for the final day of Ramsgate Week, drawing the regatta, sponsored by Vattenfall, to a very successful close. The regatta, hosted by Royal Temple Yacht Club, was well attended, with many boats travelling from Belgium, France and even Finland.

The IRC Regatta, which ran from Thursday to Saturday, concluded with the fleet competing for the historic Gold Cup which was decided on an aggregate of the two races for the day. The Gold Cup, which was first presented in 1903, is a prestigious trophy and one in which crews compete eagerly for. This year was no exception, but it was Richard Matthews’ Humphreys 42 Oystercatcher XXVI which claimed an unassailable victory, winning both races overall. Local boat, Stillelo sailed by John Barrett and Paul Woodward took second place with Robbie & Pippa Stewart’s Stewart 109 Booty! from Royal Burnham Yacht Club coming third.

In Class 1, Oystercatcher XXVI and Manta Sailing from Nieuwpoort were battling it out to win the class. But it was Oystercatcher XXVI which won the day and the IRC Regatta for Class 1, with Michel Lefebvre’s First 40 Manta Sailing second and Stilleto third.

Phillipe Bourgeois from Dunquerque returned to Ramsgate Week for his 12th year and once again ruled the Class 2 fleet, winning six out of seven races with his First 34.7 Marine Diffusion Dunkerque. John Allen’s X-302 Antix from Whitby Yacht club took a commendable second place with Richard Sparrow’s J/92 Who’s to no third.

The Class 3 fleet was dominated by the Half Tonners with Philippe Pilate’s General Tapioca, Michael Kershaw's Chimp and Alain Delvaux's Waverider jostling for the top three positions all week. Local boat, Scallywag 3, was tough competition, but it was General Tapioca which won the Class, with Chimp second and Waverider third.

The popular and ever growing Cruiser fleet had a spectacular week sailing, enjoying one coastal race each day. Class 5 (with the use of spinnakers allowed) and Class 6 (for the fast cruising boats with spinnakers prohibited) had longer races, while Class 7 (for the slower cruiser boats) had slightly shorter courses which took them out to the Gull Stream and along the shingle beaches of Sandwich.

In Class 5, Graham Jones’ Legend 27 Cheeky Monkey had a fantastic week, winning the Class, with Frank Martins Dynamic 37 Surprise second and Anthony Duggan’s Dehler 34 Moondust third.

Mark Dale and Bob Booth’s Impala 28 Reaction won Class 6, winning four of the six races. Mike Ward’s First 31.7 Toucan was second and Joanne & Martin Ross’ Magmum third.

Class 7 had a fabulous week and local boat Amelie, owned by R.Archer & M.Gray, won the class with Josh Lidstone’s Yorktown one off design Lunar second and Paul Parsons’ Sadler 32 Lady Jane third.

Full results here