Ramsgate Week 2008 at Royal Temple Yacht Club - Overall
by Harriet Flory 17 Aug 2008 10:42 PDT
11-16 August 2008
Conditions for the final day of Ramsgate Week were ideal for sailing, with a steady southerly 15 knots of wind. The day saw two races, where competitors battled it out for the coveted Gold Cup as well as completing the IRC East Coast Championships (supported by RORC).
As part of an initiative with the North Sea Challenge Series, Ramsgate Week has been well supported by boats from France, Belgium and Holland.
Class 0
There were three boats in Class 0 all fighting for the pin end of the line in both races, with Peter Harrison's Farr 52, 'Chernikeeff 2' getting clean air, followed by Richard Matthews' Humphreys 42 'Oystercatcher VVXI', who have sailed well all week. 'Chernikeeff 2' needed to win both races to draw the week, but was pipped to the post by 'Oystercatcher VVXI'.
IRC Class 0 East Coast Championships Series:
1st Oystercatcher XXV1 (Richard Matthews)
2nd Chernikeeff 2 (Peter Harrison)
3rd Cracker (Stephen & Carole Heppell)
Class 1
Line honours in the first race were taken by the ST370 'Holding Pattern', helmed by Matthew Vincent from Dolphin Sails. Axel De Cock's IMX 40 'Oxygen' shortly followed. 'Quokker' (crewed by local yachtsmen from the Royal Temple Yacht Club, and supported by Rob Dyer from North Sails) was third over the line, but won on corrected time.
IRC Class 1 East Coast Championships Series:
1st Quokka (John Barrett & Paul Woodward)
2nd Holding Pattern (Richard Matthews & Matthew Vincent)
3rd Alegria (Carl Sabbe)
Class 2
The Dutch Stern 33 'A Boen' started both races aggressively ahead of the First 34.7, 'Marine Diffusion Dunkerque'. However, 'Marine Diffusion Dunkerque' were faster upwind, beating 'A Boen' over the line in both races. Richard Sparrow's J92, 'Who's To Know', were closely following in third place.
IRC Class 2 East Coast Championships Series:
1st Marine Diffusion Dunkerque (Philippe Bourgeois)
2nd A Boen (Johan Bol)
3rd Who's to no (Richard Sparrow)
Class 3
John Allen's X302 'Antix', and Tony & Chuffy Merewether's Sun Fast 32 'Amazon' each gained a first and a second, with the French boat 'Waverider' taking third place.
IRC Class 3 East Coast Championships Series:
1st Antix (John Allen)
2nd Amazon (Tony & Chuffy Merewether)
3rd Cheeky Monkey (Graham Jones)
Class 4
'Scallywag's' run of wins came to an end as the Robert Leggett's 'Monkey Business' and Mark Dale & Bob Booths' 'Reaction' led the fleet to each take line honours. All of the Class 4 boats enjoyed the steadier winds and demanding courses.
IRC Class 4 East Coast Championships Series:
1st Monkey Business (Robert Leggett)
2nd Scallywag II (Peter Pearson & Barry Smith)
3rd Reaction (Mark Dale & Bob Booth)
IRC East Coast Championships Overall
1st Oystercatcher XXVI (Richard Matthews)
2nd Chernikeeff 2 (Peter Harrison)
3rd Quokka (John Barrett & Paul Woodward)
Impala National Championships
The Impala National Championships were decided on results extracted from the IRC Class 4 fleet, scoring on level rating. Although 'Monkey Business' won the IRC Class 4, due to their handicap rating, 'Scallywag' were able to beat them on the water to become the 2008 National Champions. Six Impala's competed, three from the host club ('Scallywag', 'Reaction' and 'Volante'), 'Monkey Business' from Haven Ports Yacht Club, 'Goodbye Mr Chips' from Medway Yacht Club and 'Kudu Nsanga', who trailed their boat all the way from Pembrokeshire Yacht Club.
1st Scallywag II (Peter Pearson & Barry Smith)
2nd Monkey Business (Robert Leggett)
3rd Reaction (Mark Dale & Bob Booth)
Gold Cup
The Gold Cup was decided on an aggregate of the two races for the day. Three boats finished with equal points, but the Corby 36 'Quokker' won on countback for being first overall in the second race. 'Chernikeeff 2' was second overall with 'Oystercatcher XXVI' taking third place.
1st Quokka (John Barrett & Paul Woodward)
2nd Chernikeeff 2 (Peter Harrison)
3rd Oystercatcher XXV1 (Richard Matthews)
Class 5
The cruiser classes completed their series with two races, both of which took them to the B2, off Pegwell Bay inside the Brake Sands. The Dufour 34 'Havoc' took line honours in both races to win the series, with David Howes' 'Escape' and Hans Schnitzler's 'Bravado' gaining a second and third in the first race. 'Bravado' and Stephen Jones's 'Mirage' took second and third respectively in the second race.
Cruiser Class 5 Series:
1st Havoc (Peter Richardson)
2nd Sidney II (Lance Stevens)
3rd Bravado (Hans G Schnitzler)
Class 6
Kenneth Lees' Sigma 35 'Rush' continued her winning streak, gaining a first place in both races, with 'Mallard' and Peridot taking second and third respectively.
Cruiser Class 5 Series:
1st Rush (Kenneth Lees)
2nd Mallard (Howard Bates)
3rd Peridot (Douglas Hack)
Next year, Ramsgate Week will take place from 10 - 15 August (to be confirmed).
More information and full results at www.ramsgateweek.com