Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst Yacht Tender 1456x180px TOP

J/112E wins Class 2 at the U.K. IRC Nationals

by J/Boats 20 Sep 2020 05:57 PDT 11-13 September 2020
IRC Two winner - David Franks J/112E Leon - RORC IRC National Championships 2020 © Paul Wyeth / pwpictures.com

Mid-September it may be, but conditions for the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 2020 IRC championships felt more like June last weekend, with shorts and T-shirts conditions and allowing a full schedule of racing to be laid on by PRO Stuart Childerley and his team. The event concluded Sunday with two windward-leeward races on the central-eastern Solent in more variable and generally lighter winds than on Friday or Saturday.

The hardest fought victory across the three classes was that of 2012 winner David Franks aboard his J/112E Leon. They had been handicapped with Franks only coming out of COVID-19 isolation on Friday; maths not working in their favor from the event's mandatory crew number reduction rules (for social distancing), but mainly from being one of the lowest rated boats in IRC Two and having to find lanes and constantly fight their way up through the fleet. On the plus side the Leon crew had sailed together previously this year.

Franks commented on the regatta, saying "it has been fabulous, a very good event, well organized. It was lovely to see so many boats out on the Solent."

"Normally we do well in the light, despite the fact that we are the smallest boat," continued Leon's Franks. "Today the wind's velocity was going up and down and was all over the place in direction, so it was hard to know what was going on. It was very challenging, a lot of work."

In the IRC 3 Division, the Royal Air Force Sailing Association team on their J/109 Red Arrow managed a few good races on the final day to finish 4th in class. Posting nearly all 5th's, Ross Bowdler's J/80 Justify ended up finishing fifth place, surprise-surprise!

Joining the UK IRC Nationals fleet on Saturday and Sunday were the twenty-two entries for the IRC Two-Handed Nationals. After a four-race series, Mike Yates' J/109 Jago sailed a consistent 2-5-6-2 series to end up tied for second place on 9 pts total, but losing the tiebreaker on countback to settle for the bronze. After a disastrous second race, Bruce Huber's J/112E Xanaboo posted a 4-10-2-4.5 tally to secure fifth place, a great performance for their first outing of the year! Other J's in the top 10 included Stephen Roberts' J/105 Jin Tonic in 7th and David Greenhalgh's J/92 J'Ronimo in 9th place.

Click here for more UK IRC Nationals sailing information.

Related Articles

80th Rolex Sydney Hobart Hits 100 Entries
Sean Langman believes 'Back 2 Black' is the boat to win him the race Sean Langman, Managing Director of Noakes Group, believes his yacht has what it takes to help him secure his first ever win in a Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Posted today at 4:34 am
Entry criteria announced for Sardinia Cup 2026
Iconic Yacht Club Costa Smeralda regatta to mirror Admiral's Cup rating bands The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) is pleased to announce that the next edition of the Sardinia Cup, taking place from 31 May to 7 June 2026, will adopt the IRC Rating Bands applied by the Royal Ocean Racing Club for the Admiral's Cup. Posted on 17 Sep
JOG Stoneways Marine Cowes-Poole Race Weekend
Plan B delivered two days of tactical, hard-fought racing Sometimes, the weather simply refuses to play ball. With forecasts of near-gale force winds and spring tides making the Hurst Narrows untenable, JOG made the prudent call to keep racing "in-Solent" for the Stoneways Marine Cowes-Poole Race Weekend. Posted on 17 Sep
Salcombe Gin Centenary Race & RORC Clubhouse Party
A celebration to conclude the racing programme in the Solent As part of the RORC centenary, alongside the headline events the Rolex Fastnet Race and the revived Admiral's Cup, the Centenary Race has been designed as a celebration to conclude the racing programme in the Solent. Posted on 16 Sep
IRC Rating Rule unites Admirals Cup & Sardinia Cup
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) has announced the return of the Sardinia Cup The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has confirmed that the Admiral's Cup will return in 2027, building on the spectacular success of its 2025 comeback after a 22-year hiatus. Posted on 15 Sep
BMW Autumn Regatta 2025 concludes
The regatta featured seven one-design classes, Sportsboats, and Big Boats What a fabulous weekend of racing! Despite early forecasts predicting less-than-ideal conditions, sailors were treated to unexpectedly steady winds and clear blue skies across two exhilarating days of competition in Victoria Harbour. Posted on 15 Sep
2025 RORC Cowes Offshore Racing Series wrap-up
The series delivered everything it promised... and more The Royal Ocean Racing Club's inaugural Cowes Offshore Racing Series has signed off in style after seven thrilling, hard-fought races, marking the start of a bold new chapter for Solent-based offshore competition. Posted on 11 Sep
JOG TeamO Cowes-Cherbourg Offshore
SailFish and Young Crew Shine The TeamO Cowes-Cherbourg Offshore, organised by JOG in partnership with RORC, delivered a thrilling offshore contest for sailors of all ages, with JOG yachts featuring prominently across the leaderboard. Posted on 11 Sep
10 days till close of Sail Paradise 2025 entries
A fresh onslaught of new arrivals in the 40ft+ range set to challenge defending champion A fresh onslaught of new boat acquisitions and arrivals in the 40ft+ range is set to really test defending champion Glenn Burrell and his RP42 Black Diamond crew this year, with rumours swirling of more to come. Posted on 11 Sep
Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 set for October
From racing to cruising, Australia's biggest sailing showcase The Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 will take place from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC), Newport, and promises to be the biggest sailing only showcase in the country. Posted on 11 Sep
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERSelden 2020 - FOOTERVaikobi Custom Teamwear