International Paint Poole Regatta - IRC Class Preview
by Charlotte Bulloch 20 May 2014 08:09 PDT
24-26 May 2014
A huge turnout is expected for Poole Regatta 2014 © David Harding /
www.sailingscenes.co.uk
Entries are building for this huge bi-annual event, held over the 3 days of the late May Bank Holiday Weekend starting 24th May. In addition to the IRC series, there are a number of national championships being run as part of the regatta, including J70s and J80s. The entries for IRC continue to build and the expectation is that 3 fleets will be run to accommodate the number of entries and to keep rating bands to a minimum.
At the top of the class 1 entries is Jackie and Rob Dobson's J133, Jeronimo, who will expect to lead this fleet around the course. Also entered is Jim Macgregor's Elan 410, Premier Flair, a previous Commodore's Cup competitor and a regular to the Cowes Week and RTIR podium. Another contender likely to be at the lower end of Class 1 is Elaine, another Elan this time the 37 foot version. Elaine has also appeared at the top IRC results in various events and is expected to give the larger boats a run for their money.
In class 2, again there are some top performing boats entered. Ian Braham's, Haven KJ Enigma has already notched up a 2nd in the RORC Easter Regatta last month and recorded class wins in the RTIR and Dartmouth regatta last year. Also in this fleet is veteran helm, Martin Pearson in Ruthless, although his boat may well be sailed by another helm noting Martin's role in organising the regatta.
In Class 3, 3 Quarter Tonners have so far entered and it is expected that these entries will grow further, to match the 6 Quarter Ton entries seen at the RORC Easter Regatta. This fleet will also see Ian Foster's Kudos, the Elan 31 and Richard Freeman's Dehler 29, Chablis, making sure the Quarter Tonners don't have it all their own way.
The latest entry is the new Winner 900. The regatta will be the first competitive entry for this offering from Holland.
The regatta is one of the south coast's largest, with around 200 competing boats expected across 15 classes. With a prize fund of over £10,000 and an extensive social programme, 2014 is set to be a record-breaking year for the event and for IRC classes in particular.
pooleregatta.co.uk