Opener for the small boats

Jean-Yves Chateau wins RORC Cervantes Trophy in 122 strong fleet

Jean-Yves Chateau with his Nicolson 33, Iromiguy, looks set to have another successful season. The 2005 Rolex Fastnet race winner was delighted with his overall win of the first offshore RORC race of the season in the Cervantes Trophy.

The race started from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line under grey skies with a NE 3 breeze on Saturday. A fleet of 122 boats set off to the east on a course that would take them through the Forts and out of the Solent to round the Rustington Outfall Light Buoy, off the Sussex coast, before crossing the Channel to the finish at Le Havre . A distance of approximately 117 miles.

First away were Class 3 at 08:30 who all managed a clear start. Ten minutes later the largest Class, Class 2 were off at 08:40 with 2 boats jumping the gun and having to return. Finally at 08:50 Classes Super Zero, Zero and 1 started together with 5 boats pushing too hard and having to come back to re-start.

By early afternoon the head of the fleet had rounded Rustington in the sunshine, for their downhill ride across the Channel. The breeze would hold out in the main, except for a calm patch that had set itself up in the area of the Owers. For the crossing the breeze backed round into the South West for a time, before swinging back towards the North West and remaining at around 10kts.

Harry Heijst aboard his S&S 41, Winsome, reported at 20:20 that they were racing amongst a group of around 30 boats with 10kts of westerly breeze in "lovely weather".

As late evening drew on the fleet began to close the French coast reporting their positions and ‘hoped for’ ETAs if the conditions held. Fair Do's, John Shepherd’s Ker 46, reported at 22:30 that they had 19.5 miles to run with 7kts of breeze from the North West, giving them about 3.5 hours to the finish. However, as is the want with yacht racing, the conditions nearer the line became more benign, leaving them, and the rest of the fleet seeing ETAs increasing by the minute.

The first to reach the finish at Le Havre was Peter Harding’s TP52, Fidessa Fastwave II, crossing at 01:43 on Sunday morning, followed at 02:19 by Bear of Britain, Windward Sailing’s Farr 52, sailed by James Gair. With the light airs at the finish it would not be until 03:30 that Yani, Bob Swann’s Marten 49, made it as the third boat home closely followed by Chernikeef 2, Windward Sailing’s Farr 52, sailed by Derek Saunders at 03:31 and Simon Henning’s Farr 45 Alice 2at 03:32.

From 03:30 onwards there would be a steady stream throughout the morning as the breeze filled from the North West to give the fleet a spinnaker finish.

Class 1 was lead in by Pen Azen, Philippe Delaporte’s J122 at 0426 whilst in Class 2 it was Exile Too, Nicolas De La Fourniere’s X35 at 04:44 and in Class 3 Fabrice Tropres’ Dufour 34, Major Tom at 05:35. The J/105 of Nick Martin, Diablo J, was the first of the Two-handed Division home at 05:11.

The Sailability Division in this year’s race had three yachts vying for the R J Rutter Trophy. Chernikeef 2, Gem -Richard Baker’s Bavaria 36 and Wild Spirit, Paul Jackson’s Sun Odyssey 40. The trophy was won by Gemwhose crew member Eddie Baker also won the trophy in 2006.

The chat in the bar at the Societe des Regates du Havre (which had stayed open all night) was that the race had had some frustrating and testing moments but on the whole had been a great race to start the RORC season. Although cold the weather had not been extreme and very few had retired. The race proved to be a small boat race and suited David Crawforth’s Sigma 33, Sigress, extremely well giving him a second overall.

The Prizegiving for the main trophies was held at the Club with the Presidente, Sabine Prigent and RORC Main Committee member Stephen Winters doing the honours.

The RORC are extremely grateful for all the assistance receive from the SRH especially for providing the finishing line boat which was manned by Jean-Jacques, Anthony Davey and David Minords.

Once again this year the Societe des Regates du Havre organised a return race from Le Havre to Cowes , starting at 16:50 local time on Sunday 6th May, competing for the Coupe Guillaume Le Conquerant.

Full list of trophies and medallions winners follows:-

Medallions will be presented at a prizegiving in the RORC, 20 St James’s Place, London SW1 on Tuesday 22 May at 1930. All skippers and crew will be welcome.

CERVANTES TROPHY
BCT IRC, Jean-Yves Chateau, IROMIGUY

IRC SUPER ZERO
1st and first boat home, Peter Harding, FIDESSA FASTWAVE 11

IRC Zero
1st in IRC 0 winning the THALASSA CUP, Charles Ivill, JB 3 (J133)
2nd, Martin Richmond-Coggan, JUMP (J133)
3rd, Mike Ridley, GILLY B (First 47.7)
4th, Simon Henning, ALICE 2 (Farr 45)

IRC 1
1st in IRC 1 winning the NORYEMA VII CUP, Philippe Delaporte, PEN AZEN (J122) 2nd, Peter Robson, PLAYING AROUND (First 40.7)
3rd, Sailing Logic, PUMA LOGIC (Reflex 38)
4th, Nicolas Gaumont-Prat, PHILOSOPHIE IV (First 40.7)
5th, Peter Newlands, ANTICIPATION (First 40.7)

IRC 2
lst in IRC 2 winning the VASHTI GOBLET, Noel Racine, FOGGY DEW (JPK 9.60)
2nd, Clemency Williams, JOS OF HAMBLE (First 34.7)
3rd, Nick Martin, DIABLO-J (J105)
4th, Mike West, JUNEAU (J105)
5th, Nicolas DeLa Fourniere, EXILE TOO (X35)

IRC 3
1st in IRC 3 winning the KINROSS TROPHY, Jean-Yves Chateau
2nd and first Seahorse Division, David Crawforth, SIGRESS (Sigma 33) 3rd, Fabrice Tropes, MAJOR TOM (Dufour 34)
4th, Martin Biggs, BLUSTERY DAY (First 32)
5th, Eric Hainneville, JALUCYNE (J92)

2 Handed Division
1st, Clemency Williams, JOS OF HAMBLE (First 34.7)
2nd, Nick Martin, DIABLO J (J105)
3rd, Mike West, JUNEAU (J105)

SRH Cup – BCT IRM
Simon Henning, ALICE 2 (Farr 45)

R J Rutter Trophy – BCT Sailability Division
GEM, Richard Baker (crew member Eddie Baker)

Best Sigma 38
Philip Meakins FESTINE LENTE