2015 RORC Season's Points Championship – Cherbourg Race preview

by Louay Habib on 3 Sep 2015 2015 RORC Cherbourg Race – After a record breaking Rolex Fastnet Race, the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 2015 RORC Season's Point Championship continues this weekend with the ever popular Cherbourg Race. 60 yachts have entered, and for nearly all of them, this will be the last race of the championship. Although the Rolex Middle Sea Race is actually the final race, the overall and class winners of the 2015 RORC Season's Point Championship are likely to be decided this weekend.

Weather forecasts are predicting a light to medium northerly gradient wind, which should prove ideal conditions for Mikey Ferguson's IMOCA 60, Artemis Ocean Racing to take Line Honours, however, Piet Vroon's Ker 51, Tonnerre de Breskens could also be the first yacht to reach Cherbourg.

Following their magnificent victory in the Rolex Fastnet Race, Géry Trentesaux's JPK 10.80 Courrier Du Leon, is the overall leader for the RORC Season's Point Championship but victory for the season is still not decided. Louis-Marie Dussere's JPK 10.10, Raging Bee, which is being campaigned Two Handed, is less than 33 points behind Courrier Du Leon, and capable of winning the overall prize.

For the RORC Season's Points Championship, class results are decided by the yachts top five races for the season. The Cherbourg Race represents the last chance for many to improve their points total to claim the podium positions for the class; two classes winners are very much in the balance

In IRC One, the top three yachts are just 16 points apart and will all be competing in the Cherbourg Race with a chance of winning the class for the season. Michael Greville racing Ker 39 Erivale III, leads the class for the season. Just three points behind, RORC Vice Commodore, Steven Anderson, racing his Corby 40 Cracklin Rosie will need to beat Erivale III by two places and score at least 80 points, to take the lead. David Ballantyne's J/133 Jings is 16 points behind Erivale III and will need to score a 100 points in either the Cherbourg Race or Rolex Middle Sea Race to have a chance of winning the class.

Erivale III, skippered by Mike Greville, scored well in the Rolex Fastnet Race to take the class lead. Past RORC Commodore, Mike Greville, was competing in his 17th Fastnet Race. “ We won class in the Cherbourg Race last year, so we are keen to defend that win.” commented Mike, “ It has been a great battle with Cracklin Rosie this season and it looks like whoever wins this race will be the class champion. I haven't had a good look at the weather yet, but if it is light and downwind that will be fine for us. I must have raced to Cherbourg about a dozen times and the atmosphere is always great at the yacht club, especially if the weather is nice. I am sure our French counterparts will lay on a warm welcome for us.”

In IRC Two, four yachts are still in contention for the class win, Peter Newlands First 40.7, Anticipation leads the class from RORC Admiral, Andrew McIrvine's First 40, La Réponse, which will need to beat Anticipation by 18 points in the Cherbourg race to take the lead. Michel Peretie's A40, Stamina III has the potential to move up from third to first should the French team win class for the Cherbourg Race. Vincent Willemart and Eric Van Campenhout's MC34, Azawakh, can still also win the class, but will probably have to win the Cherbourg Race to do so.

In IRC Three, IRC Four and IRC Two Handed, Géry Trentesaux's JPK 10.80 Courrier Du Leon, Noel Racine's JPK 10.10, Foggy Dew and Louis-Marie Dussere's JPK 10.10 Raging Bee are assured of winning their respective classes but all three French yachts are entered for the Cherbourg Race. No doubt there will be a tremendous atmosphere and no shortage of festivities at the Yacht Club de Cherbourg. Géry Trentesaux, Louis-Marie Dussere, Pascal Loison (Night and Day) are all regular visitors to the club.