Sjambok takes 2007 Gulf Stream Series

by Talbot Wilson on 10 Nov 2007 It was a battle down to the wire for first place in the Gulf Stream Series. 'Something is right,' Michael Brennan said. 'When a year-long series comes down to three boats neck & neck going into the last regatta of the series and the season.'

Brennan of Potomac, MD had just sailed his RP45 Sjambok to third in the highly competitive Class 1 of the US-IRC East Coast Championship Series, and to first in the 2007 Gulf Stream Series.

Brennan went on to compliment the US-IRC for putting together an excellent series. 'The mix of events was good and required consistent performance in long and short offshore races and in inshore regattas as well,' he added. 'It was a challenging series to complete since we had to go to a variety of events to qualify. We had to have good all around performance to win'

Sjambok’s captain, Dave van der Spuy, and his wife Lynda accepted the second annual Gulf Stream Trophy on behalf of Brennan and Sjambok’s crew at the Annual Awards Dinner of the New York Yacht Club in New York City on November 8th. Brennan said he could not attend because of an earlier commitment, but wanted to thank the US-IRC for a well-run series. The award was presented by Commodore Charles Townsend.

To reach the winner’s podium, Sjambok sailed the Ft Lauderdale to Key West Race (Group 1), the Pineapple Cup and Annapolis to Newport (Group 2), Acura Key West Race Week, The NYYC Annual Regatta, Block Island Race Week and the US-IRC East Coast Championship (Group 3). The 2007 Gulf Stream Series required one Group 1 event, one Group 2 event and three Group 3 events.

Decision the Transpac 52 owned by Stephen Murray of New Orleans, LA was second in the series. Third place went to Kalevala II a Grand Soleil 37 owned by Tapio Saavalainen of Washington, DC.

Organizing authorities wishing to adopt IRC for their events should contact US-IRC Executive Director John Mendez for help with the process info@us-irc.org.

The US SAILING Offshore office administers the IRC rule in the US. Yacht owners should contact Nathan Titcomb at irc@ussailing.org for help with certificate application or with rating questions.

Check the US-IRC web site for upcoming US-IRC event news and go racing with us.

The United States-IRC Foundation, Inc. (www.us-irc.org) works to support and develop use of the IRC rule in co-operation with US SAILING (www.ussailing.org), which is the authorized body that issues IRC certificates under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) (www.rorcrating.com).

The US-IRC's mission is to promote and enhance inshore and offshore yacht racing throughout the country by expansion of the use of the rule. An IRC certificate is, in effect, an international passport for a yacht, enabling it to travel across national and international borders using the same certificate wherever it goes. The supporting partners for the US-IRC rule are Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc., New York Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club and St. Francis Yacht Club.

The annual US-IRC Gulf Stream Series, which starts in January and finishes in November, offers a comprehensive racing opportunity for sailors entering the major IRC events in the Caribbean and on the East Coast.

The IRC has been granted 'international' status by ISAF. It has been in existence since 1999 (adopted in the U.S. in 2004) and is now the basis for more than 7500 certificates issued worldwide and 625 IRC yachts active in the U.S. The rule is used worldwide at a variety of different levels, ranging from local club races to major offshore events.