France dominates Cherbourg Race

RORC season comes to a close - plus images from Rick Tomlinson

Steep big waves and surfing...that’s how it was on the Cherbourg Race; spray flying everywhere.

The last race of the 2006 RORC season was fast and furious. Great waves perfect for surfing but the faster you went the harder the water hit you. But after a couple of beers in the Yacht Club de Cherbourg bar the dripping oilskins decorating every boom were forgotten and the talk was of hitting 20 knots. A quick beat out through the Forts was not followed by the expected three sail beam reach all the way to Cherbourg. A close reach under Jib Top was the order of the day.

It panned out as a big boat race with Jean-Philippe Chomette’s scratch boat Solune beating Venom (Derek Saunders) the second highest boat, by just 40 seconds on corrected time to win Super Zero and IRC overall. French boats dominated in the heavy airs. In IRC1 the French took first and third; Groupe Partouche once again revelled in the conditions deploying her water ballast to victory.

In IRC2 it was a straight one, two three with Foggy Dew taking honours. In IRC3 it was France first and second with China Blue winning by 19 minutes. Honour was restored by Creative Play who won IRC0 by an impressive 26 minutes but it has to be said that there were no French boats in the class!

The RORC would like to thank Nicole & Gilbert Roger for providing their yacht as a committee boat once again, the Yacht Club de Cherbourg, and the three French Rolex Commodores’ Cup teams for the 'aperitif copieux'.

Cherbourg Race 2006 Trophies and Medallion Winners Two Handed Division
1st Christophe Coatnoan Groupe Partouche Figaro II
2nd Pascal Loison Night and Day J105

IRM RORC Trophy
1st H20 Yachting - Andy Greenwood Creative Play Farr 40

IRC 3 Jolie Brise Trophy
1st Marc Noel China Blue J92
2nd Denis Frederic Fletcher Lynd X95
3rd Martin Biggs Blustery Day First 32

IRC 2 Yacht Club de France Trophy
1st Noel Racine Foggy Dew JPK 960
2nd Pascal Loison Night and Day J105
3rd Philippe Delaporte Pen Azen

IRC 1 Trophée des Deux Manches
1st Christophe Coatnoan Groupe Partouche Figaro II
2nd Thierry Lacour Sticky Fingers Mumm 30
3rd Jan Legallet Banque Populaire Kunkel Palettes A40

IRC SZ & 0 Quailo Cup
1st Jean-Philippe Chomettte Solune Nacira 60
2nd Windward Sailing – Derek Saunders Venom Volvo 60
3rd H20 Yachting Creative Play Farr 40

BCT IRC Cherbourg Trophy
Jean-Philippe Chomette Solune Nacira 60