It was sun and champagne sailing for crews taking part in this year’s 3-day Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Easter Challenge off Cowes on Good Friday (15th April).
In IRC (International Racing Certificate) 1, Ian Atkin’s GP42 Dark ‘n Stormy got their 2022 campaign off to a perfect start, taking 3 bullets. Dutch Ker 46 Van Uden, skippered by Gerd-Jan Poortman, was in 2nd place, just a point ahead of their Dutch rivals Ker 43 Baraka Gp, skippered by Harmen Jan de Graaf.
IRC 2, the largest class in the regatta, produced the closest racing. Happy Daize, skippered by James Chalmers, finished the day in pole position by a single point from the Army Sailing Association’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier, skippered by Henry Foster.
The smallest boat at the regatta (in IRC 3) was Julian Metherell’s Quarter Tonner Bullit. This boat did especially well at race starts and scored 3 bullets on the opening day.
Day 2
Fabulous sailing conditions continued in the Solent for Day 2 of the regatta. 2 racecourses gave the fleet a mixture of windward/ leeward races and round the cans courses with 3 races completed for all 3 IRC Classes.
Intense racing in the big boat class saw Dark N Stormy score 2 more bullets to take a firm grip on this class. After posting a 1-2-4, Happy Daize retained the IRC 2 class lead by a single point from The Army Sailing Association, whilst in IRC 3, Quarter Tonner Bullit retained the class lead, but failed to keep up their perfect score line from the first day.
Day 3
Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark N Stormy (IRC 1), the Army Sailing Association’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier, skippered by Henry Foster (IRC 2), and Lena Having’s Corby 33 Mrs Freckles (IRC 3) were the winners.
In IRC 1, the youth team, racing Dutch Ker 46 Van Uden, skippered by Gerd-Jan Poortman, was second, just 2 points ahead of Harmen Jan de Graaf’s Dutch Ker 43 Baraka Gp.
Placings in IRC 2 were: 2nd- Happy Daize and VME Racing’s Mills 39 Zero II, skippered by James Gair, snatched the last podium position whilst in IRC 3, 2nd and 3rd placings were taken by: Harry J. Heijst’s S&S 41 Winsome and Bullit.
Winsome was also awarded a silver cup for the Prix D’Elegance Award.
