Cherbourg Double at RSYC

by Cathy Crawley on 26 May 2013 RSYC Cherbourg Double - As Friday's storm clouds and high winds passed through, Saturday 25th May dawned with a favourable breeze from the NE, forecast to become lighter during the day. The race committee set a line square to Cherbourg and all classes got away on time. With a 7am first warning to take full advantage of the favourable tide, a great day race to Cherbourg was in prospect. Most of the fleet set their spinnakers and opted for the north channel towards Portsmouth and were soon out of sight, under leaden skies.

This year’s Corona Extra Cherbourg Double was combined with leg one of RSYC’s fun Channel Triangle race regatta and several competitors had entered for both events.

First to finish at 17.41.35 with an elapsed time of 10hrs 50mins and 10 seconds, was Class 1 Ding Dong! (Stewart 37), some 24 minutes ahead of second to finish Mint Julep (J/122). Only six minutes behind was Juliette (J/105), all three crossing in under 11 hours after some thrilling cross-Channel racing. On corrected time, Juliette moved to the top of the podium, with Ding Dong! Second and Mint Julep third.

Hydra (Beneteau First 33.7) led in Class 2, and kept first place on corrected time. Next to finish was The Flying Fish (Laser 28) and third on the water was Pastime of Hamble (She 36). On corrected times, Google Eye (Trapper 300) moved to second and The Flying Fish was third.

In Class 3, Asante (Maxi 1100) took link honours on the water and retained first place on corrected time. Amy Lou (Maxi 1100) took second place.

Pavo (Wauquiez Pretorien) was first to finish in Class 4 and kept her place at the top of the podium on corrected time. Second on the water and corrected was Aquarius Ventures (maxi 34) and third was Looking Foor Kloos (Maxi 1000).

Offshore Series points overall

Corona Extra Double Handed Series	1st	2nd	3rd
Class One	Juliette	Jo Jo Gunne	Weebear
Class Two	Hydra	Pastime of Hamble	Edith
Class Three	Amy Lou	Asante	Arc
Class Four	Aquarius Ventures	Larissa	Alma

With all to play for, the final race of RSYC’s Corona Extra Offshore Double Handed Series will be the Long Distance Double, this year visiting Le Havre. The first warning signal is expected to be at 19.00 on Friday 23rd August 2013.

RSYC has been running Double Handed racing for more than 30 years and offers both challenging short-handed racing on the water and a friendly welcome to the competitors ashore.

The next event is the Sharp’s Doom Bar Double Handed Regatta over the weekend of 15th-16th June. RSYC Double Handed two-day regatta is a great opportunity to test short-handed racing skills. Separate from the RSYC’s renowned Double Handed Series, this stand-alone regatta has sponsor prizes for first, second and third place boats in RSYC website