Gold Cup for Oystercatcher

Ramsgate Week wraps up

IRC CLASSES:

Class 1 - Race 6 ‘IRC East Coast Championships’ including ‘Sail East’ (Race 9 Overall):

In slightly more breeze than earlier in the week, the fleet were sent to Broadstairs Knoll Buoy, then a long run to the South-Brake Buoy off Deal, back to East-Brake Buoy off Ramsgate, then to the finish via the ICOM Buoy off Sandwich Bay.

Richard Matthews' Oystercatcher used her 52ft length to disappear off round Broadstairs Knoll Buoy and south to Deal in short order. Peter Jackson’s Assassin, after a week of crew training and the odd problem, chased her hard with Rob Stewart’s Booty, which cost half the amount of Oystercatcher’s mast, chasing in third.

The accumulating north running tide, disadvantaged the smaller boats, and so much so that only Richard Matthew’s Oystercatcher ended up racing the finishing launch to the finish line, getting home in time for lunch and golf.

Half an hour behind, a real fight was ensuing, including with the leading class 2 boats. Assassin had gained time anticipating the tide turn at Broadstairs Knoll Buoy, but slightly over-estimating the East-Brake Buoy, thus costing her valuable seconds. A slick spinnaker drop at ICOM saved the day and she was just far enough ahead of Booty to take the position by a few seconds, with Stiletto and X-Waves both within a few seconds of Booty.

Peter Jackson had won the Gold Cup four times previously, but it was Richard Matthew’s Gold Cup this year. The leading Class 2 boat, the Dutch A’Boen was only three seconds behind Assassin, one of six boats within one minute on handicap. A brilliant race with which to end the week!!!

Class 2: Race 6 IRC East Coast Championships including Sail East (Race 9 Overall):

Today we saw Amazon and A’Boen battle for the Gold Cup in a fresh breeze along the Kent coastline up to North Foreland and back down the gull stream beside the Goodwin Sands. They were closely followed by With Alacrity and Antix, all of whom showed the local boats the way.

Final results for Class 2 Ramsgate Week were: Who’s To No in first place overall, followed by A’Boen, Antix and With Alacrity in second, third and fourth position respectively, from a strong fleet of twelve boats.