Elaine victorious

The Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championship took place last weekend

Elaine took first place in the Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championship 2012. The Elan 37, skippered by Sabrina Gravelle and Heather Ross, won all of its races to win in the IRC class and the overall championship.

Sabrina Gravelle said of their win: “We’ve been runners-up for the previous two years, so it was great to finally win the big trophy – third time lucky! This event is not just great racing but is also for a great cause. My thanks go to the girls on our team and especially to Mike Bridges for letting us use Elaine.”

On this occasion runner-up was Lavinia Paternoster’s team on the J/80 Juicy, having won five of the six races in the series in the J/80 class. In third place were an elated Annie Kelly and crew on the J/92S Blackjack.

The Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championship took place at Hamble River Sailing Club over 15-16 September. This was the fifth edition of the annual yacht racing event for women only crews.

Six races were held in the northern area of the Solent under the experienced instruction of PRO Peter Bateson and Assistant PRO Kathy Smalley in perfect conditions of southwesterly winds ranging from 6-17 knots.

There were six boats in the IRC class ranging in size and speed from Minka Armitage’s Grand Soleil 34.3 Gazelle on an IRC rating of 0.950 to Elaine Roberts’ Beneteau First 40.7 Coyote, on 1.057.

In the J/80 class, despite there only being three entries, racing was hotly contested and featured some of the top female talent in yacht racing, including Charlotte Lawrence, Jane Saunders and Hannah Diamond on the helms.

The event started on the evening of Friday 14 September with a Pink Party in aid of Breast Cancer Care. Those in attendance for registration and a post-work drink were treated to a weather briefing from sports weather guru Libby Greenhalgh of Weatherwhiz.co.uk.

The Saturday evening featured the annual Frocks & Flipflops party which was a sell-out event in aid of Breast Cancer Care. As well as a hog roast and fifth birthday cake, party goers were treated to: samples from TheOne Chocolate Company; a stall selling knickers from the not-for-profit company Who Made Your Pants; and household items made by from the Hamble Knitterati group. The main feature of the evening was the superb raffle which, along with tickets sales and other fund raising activities, has raised in excess of £1,200 for Breast Cancer Care.

The well attended prize giving took place at Hamble River Sailing Club on Sunday at 4.30pm. The top three boats in class and overall were treated to an excellent array of Dubarry boots, jackets, handbags and luggage kindly provided by sponsors Dubarry of Ireland as well as glassware from the club.

The organisers of the Dubarry Women’s Open Keelboat Championships would like to thank their sponsors Dubarry of Ireland, the Hamble River Sailing Club and those companies and individuals who kindly donated gifts and prizes for our competitors and partiers. 

IRC class results:
Elaine, Elan 37 - 6pts
Blackjack, J/92S - 16pts
Team Beaudacious, J/109 - 20pts
Gazelle, Grand Soleil 34.3 - 24pts
Coyote, Beneteau First 40.7 - 31pts
Gemstone, Beneteau 31.7 - 33pts

J/80 class results:
Juicy - 7pts
Peloton - 13pts
Rock & Roll - 16pts

Overall results:
Elaine - 24.5pts
Juicy - 40.4pts
Blackjack - 65.3pts
Peloton - 75.1pts
Beaudacious - 81.6pts
Rock & Roll - 92.4pts
Gazelle - 98.0pts
Coyote - 126.6pts
Gemstone - 134.7pts