Open HP30 & Sportsboat Nationals at Plymouth - Preview
by Jochem Visser 2 Jul 2016 07:22 PDT
15-17 July 2016
Lloyd Thornburg's Farr 280 FOMO at the RORC IRC Nationals © Richard Langdon / Ocean Images
With the first IRC based Open HP30 & Sportsboat Nationals shaping up in Plymouth it's time to have a look at the who's who in the new rising fleet of those who love fast and fun.
With Plymouth settings being ideal, with racing inside and outside the sound, the event gathers all of those regardless of skills. Under the careful authority of the Plymouth combined clubs (PPSA), this is the first official mixed Sportboats championship with the winner walking away with a stunning Richard Varasey designed perpetual trophy to honour their sailing skills.
Front runners in the HP30 class, Cool Runnings, Fomo, Pandemonium, Dropbear & Pegasus will be joined by more FarEast 28s including a new team from the Netherlands under the designer's watch full eyes, Maarten Voogd. The new Seascape 27 owned by Steve Andrews and Tim Cunliffe's adapted Farr 30 will also join this high octane group.
In the Mixed Sportboats, which also includes the growing Seacape 18s, we welcome keen entries from abroad as well Irish talent Kenneth Rumball making an entry into the class and Nicky Schuttrups defending the female pride in the class. With a total of 8 Seascape 18s they will dominate this group. They will be challenged by J70s as well as an Open 5.70, a smaller version of the successful Cool Runnings, as well as other Sportsboats.
The event will also include an opportunity for participants to upload their best tracks and present the best top boat speeds during the event using GPX gps files. It's a great way to highlight their individual achievements and see the strong points of these little pocket rockets.
Entries are open at yacht-regatta.ppsa.org.uk