Red Funnel Easter Challenge - Panthera Strikes Again!

by RORC/Louay Habib on 9 Apr 2007
The big issue at the 16th Red Funnel Easter Challenge was about how to cope in light airs - a scenario that is always going to be a possibility in yacht racing.

The general conditions were super light with gradient breeze being affected by weak sea breezes. Knowing when the breeze would shift and gauging the strong tide were the major conundrums for the competitors. However, despite the lack of breeze, the 72 competing yachts at the regatta enjoyed the event immensely.

The general consensus of opinion was that the Red Funnel Easter Challenge is an ideal way to start the season and a real test of what needs to be done to improve performance.

Race 5, the last race of the regatta, finally got underway at 1300 when a steady breeze of 8-10 knots set in. The Race Committee laid a short windward leeward course of six miles for the big boats and four and a half miles for all other classes. There was a general recall for the first race but all the competitors were very thankful to get back out on the race course.

Throughout the weekend, the competitors have enjoyed some well organised racing and thanks go to all members of the Race Committee. A special mention should also go to the committee boats: Atlantis (Andy & Fiona Bristow); Condor (Jim Hughes/Bill Oakley); 3C’s (Alec Cokes and Mike Scott) and the team of on-the-water coaches.

PRO Jamie Wilkinson commented: 'The Red Funnel Easter Challenge is a training regatta. We have started races in conditions which are less than ideal and the competitors accept it. It is important to get the crews sailing and the coaches out there looking at them. I would not send the fleet off in those conditions in national championships.'

Coach, Jim Saltonstall said: 'One of the things that the sailors really need to concentrate on is maintaining their focus when it goes light. Boredom can create mental apathy and that is of great concern. The bottom line is that concentration levels have got to be 100% in light airs, just as much as in the mid-range and upper-range wind bands. If the competitors do not remain focused, they will not get the results they would have wished for. Sailing coaches are working with sports psychologist, promoting a more positive attitude to sailing in light conditions. It’s a big area of concern.'

Red Funnel Ferries Managing Director, Tom Docherty, presented the overall class winners with engraved decanters, tankards and yet more Easter egg prizes. He was delighted with the company’s involvement in the regatta and commented before the prize giving:

'We started the event several years ago with just a handful of boats to try to kick start the sailing season. Who would have thought it would turn into the magnificent event that we have today. We welcome all the old and the new faces to the Island and I am delighted to confirm that we will continue the Easter tradition next year as well.'

IRM
Race 5: IRM Class Chairman, Jerry Otter racing his Farr 45, Werewolf, won the last race with Shaun Frohlich’s Farr 45, Exabyte Four in second place. Benny Kelly’s TP52 Panthera was in third place.

Panthera had a fantastic Easter, winning both IRM and her class in IRC. Panthera, helmsman Kenny McCullough from Northern Ireland commented:

'We have not done too many changes to the boat over the winter. I put our performance down to having a settled crew with plenty of ability.

The teamwork this regatta has been very good. I would especially mention Rob Greenhalgh who did an excellent job as tactician.'

Jerry Otter’s Farr 45, Werewolf, was second in class, but will have great satisfaction in being the top Farr 45. Andy Greenwood sailing his maiden regatta on Farr 45, Fraxious, was third overall, a decent performance from a new team, only set up late last year.

IRC Z & SZ
Race 5: Jochem Visser helming the brand new X 41, Legally Brunette, won their second race of the regatta from Tim Costello’s Mills 40, Tiamat, with WISC, the Swan 45 owned and driven by Glynn Williams in third.

Panthera won the class with an impressive performance. Panthera’s owner Benny Kelly was delighted for his crew and is looking forward to the season. He said: 'Panthera will be racing in the Solent this year against other TP 52s and there is a possibility we might enter some offshore races.'

Klaus Dietrich and Grant Gordon, joint owners and drivers of Fever, will be delighted to have come out as the top Swan 45 of this regatta, even though they were second in class. Tim Costello’s Mills 40, Tiamat, was third and would have been vying for an overall win if they had not had a poor result in Race 3.

IRC 1
Race 5: Hamish Mackay’s, beautifully turned out, Seaquest RP36, won her first ever race. Built in Dubai, she is the first of her kind and must have travelled the longest distance to compete in the regatta. Tim and Sophie Harrington’s X 35, Vortex, was in second place with the First 40.7, Addiction, in third.

Vortex won IRC 1 overall with an impressive set of results, barring race 4 when she went aground, but managed to get back in the race.

It goes to show, that if you don’t give up, you always have a chance of pulling victory from the jaws of defeat.

In second place overall was Addiction, but only on count back, having scored an identical total points score to the winners.

Third was Peter Robson’s First 40, Playing Around.


IRC 2
Race 5: Andrew Allen helming his J 109, No Naked Flames, won the race by a mere 20 seconds on corrected time. No Naked Flames co-owner, Colm Monahan, commented: 'We brought the boat over from Ireland, especially for this event, and it has been well worth the effort. America’s Cup veteran, Chris Main, has been at the back of the boat. That and the coaching support, has meant that in just three days, we have learned more than we could do in a month of Sunday’s without them'.

Nick Jones’s First 34.7, Astarte, was second and Jim Macgregor’s Elan 40, Flair IV was in third.

Astarte won IRC 2 overall and Nick Jones’s crew are all family and friends, including Nick’s father and his fiancé Suzy.

Nick had considerable success with his last boat, Tarka, and it looks like that may well continue.

No Naked Flames was in second place by a single point, with Peter Schofield’s HOD 35, Zarafa, in third.



IRC 3
Race 5: Mike Tattersall’s X 99, Electra won, by a mere 12 seconds on corrected time, from Myles Perrin’s Capo 30, Santana. In third pace was another Electra! Andy Phelps, steering his First 31.7, to their best result of the regatta.

99, Electra won their class after a close battle with Santana. Rick Hanslip, skipper of Electra commented:

'The crew are all amateurs who are part of the Royal Navy Reserve. We come from the Portsmouth area and the boat is based in Gosport.

The Race Committee has done a splendid job this weekend, in difficult circumstances, and it was nice to get the last race in with some decent breeze.'

In second place overall was Santana and Jackie Welch’s Elan 333, Elusive, was third.


Provisional Overall Results:

Class IRC SZ & Zero
1, GBR1997L, Panthera, TP 52, Benny Kelly, (1.343, 16, 5, 1, 1, 2, 7)
2, GBR945R, Fever, Swan 45, Klaus Diederichs & Grant Gordon, (1.192, 27, 6, 3, 8, 5, 5)
3, IRL12345, Tiamat, Mills 40, Tim Costello, (1.142, 29, 2, 2, 16, 7, 2)

Class IRM
1, GBR1997L, Panthera, TP 52, Benny Kelly, (1.232, 8, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3)
2, GBR745R, Werewolf, Farr 45, Jerry Otter, (1.108, 10, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1)
3, GBR4545R, Fraxious, Farr 45, Andy Greenwood, (1.112, 22, 2, 4, 6, 3, 7)

Class IRC1
1, GBR9735T, Vortex, X-35, Tim & Sophie Harrington, (1.052, 17, 3, 1, 2, 9, 2)
2, GBR9859T, Addiction, First 40