RORC Channel Race – Shakti takes the spoils

by Louay Habib on 31 Jul 2016 Avenarius and Gorm Gondesen's German Ker 46 Shakti was the overall winner of the RORC Channel Race. Tony Lawson was on board his MOD 70 Concise 10 for a blast around the 125 mile course, in just 9 hours 15 mins and 54 Secs and was first boat home. Harm Prins' Volvo 70 Sanya Lan took monohull line honours in just under 12 hours. Shakti's overall win gives the German team just under an 11 point advantage over Tonnerre 4 in IRC Zero for the RORC Season's Points Championship. Tonnerre fell behind early in the race, as the leading boats past through Hurst Narrows and try as the Dutch team might, they could not catch their German rivals.

'It was a beautiful race, not very much wind but excellent sailing' commented Shakti's Gorm Gondesen. 'It is always satisfying to beat good competitors and it was a surprise to beat Tonnerre on the water but I guess they found a position where they had to take risks which did not pay off. Shakti will be racing for a few days during Cowes Week but we are really looking forward to the Île d'Ouessant Race in a few weeks time.'

Two yachts racing in IRC One have emerged as contenders as the overall winners of the 2016 RORC Season's Points Championship. Alan Hannon's RP45, Katsu performed well to take line honours for IRC One by handsome margin. However, after time correction, Katsu was second to Nick Jones' First 44.7 Lisa. Lisa retains the overall lead for the season and extends their advantage by four points.

In IRC Two, Andy Theobald's J/122 R&W took line honours for the class and the win on corrected time by an impressive margin. Sailing Logic's First 40 Arthur Logic, skippered by Oliver Heer was second. Elin Haf Davies and Chris Frost's Two Handed entry Nunatak, fought off a strong challenge from the Army Sailing Association's J/111 British Soldier to take third in IRC Three and IRC Two Handed.

Twelve yachts competed in the Channel Race in IRC Three, Richard Elliott's A35 Eaujet was the winner. Ian Hoddle's Sunfast 3600 Game On had a great race taking line honours in IRC Two, second in IRC Two and first in the IRC Two Handed Division. Robbie Craig's Sunfast 3600 was third in IRC Three and second in IRC Two Handed.

In IRC Four, Harry Heijst's S&S 41 Winsome was the winner from Stuart Greenfield's Half Tonner, Silver Shamrock. Robert Nelson's J/105 Bigfoot was third.

Sailor's will always remember their first offshore race and this weekend a special mention goes to James Tomlinson, son of the famous yachting photographer Rick. James has been racing dinghies since he was nine.
For the Channel Race, James was taking part in his first RORC Offshore on board Inspiration Of Boss in IRC Four. 'Team Challenge Racing is a new project to bring youths into racing' commented James. 'Charlie Ellis and Dee Caffari have been really good to learn from, they are very good at making us work hard and motivating us. BOSS sailing school have organised more racing on a Farr 52 and I am really looking forward to it.'

The RORC Season's Points Championship has a two-week break during Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. The next race in the series will be a brand new offshore event, the Île d'Ouessant Race. The 400 mile race takes the fleet from the Solent, into the English Channel, and around the massive tides of Ushant and its archipelago with a finish in the historic walled city of St Malo.