Champagne Charlie June Regatta at Royal Southern Yacht Club - Day 1
by Louay Habib 13 Jun 00:50 PDT
12-13 June 2021
Glorious conditions blessed the first day of the Royal Southern Yacht Club Champagne Charlie June Regatta. 87 boats racing in the Solent was a magnificent sight and after a sparkling day on the water, Charles Heidsieck Champagne provided the magical bubbles to finish off a memorable day of racing.
Congratulations to the 14 teams that took race victories today. The eight class leaders after Day One are: Russell Peters' Cape31 Squirt, Adam Gosling's JPK 1080 Yes!, Handley & James' Mustang 30 Gr8 Banter, Hill & Faulkner's Farr 280 Moral Compass, Jonty Sherwill's classic Cockleshell, Paul Ward's J/70 Eat Sleep J Repeat, John Pollard's SB20 Xcellent, and Peter Baines XOD Felix.
The Royal Southern Race Committee, led by PRO Tanya Robinson, delayed the start to allow a sea breeze to develop. Racing started in a light northerly wind, which backed south westerly as the sea breeze arrived just after high tide. Building to 15 knots or more with wind over tide, the Solent delivered superb conditions for an extended afternoon of racing. Like a fine champagne, the mousse was creamy, and the finish was long.
Black Group - CRO Cathy Smalley
IRC One
Russell Peters' Cape31 Squirt won all three of today's races in the 17-strong class. Blair & Beckett's King 40 Cobra, 2019 Summer Series Champions, finished the day second. Lance Adams' Cape31 Katabatic is third, but only on countback from James Howell's Corby 36 Gelert. Cornel Riklin's Jitterbug is the best J/111 of the five entered.
IRC Two
Adam Gosling's JPK 1080 Yes! nailed the pin end at the start of racing today in IRC Two. The sound made by a Champagne as it leaves a correctly opened bottle is a clue to the wine's identity. Yes! has been one of the most successful campaigns in the Solent for many years, today the team showed their quality, scoring two race victories. It has been nearly two years since Mike Bridges' and his crew have raced on JPK 10.10 Elaine Again, but it only took the team one race to get back into the groove. Elaine Again finished the day second in class. Team Knight Build on J/112E Happy Daize is just a point behind in third. Well done to Gordon Craigen's J/105 Jacana, which won the first race of the day.
IRC Three
Handley & James' Mustang 30 Gr8 Banter won two of today's races to finish the first day in pole position. John Allen's x-302 Antix is just a point behind in second. David Greenhalgh's J/92 J'ronimo won the last race of the day to make the class podium. The level of competition in the class is evident by just two and a half points separating the top three, plus a tie during the second race between J'ronimo and Olly & Sam Love's SJ320 Frank3.
HP30 Class
Four Farr 280s made up the top of the leaderboard in the HP30s. Hill & Faulkner's Moral Compass leads having scored two bullets. Jamie Rankin's Pandemonium is in second place, just a point ahead of Glyn Locke's Toucan and Jonathan Powell's Peggy.
White Group - CRO Charlie Stowe
SB20 Class
John Pollard's Xcellent put in an impressive performance for the first day of the SB20 Southern Area Championships, scoring straight bullets. Mark Gillett PoorBuoy PBII was runner up in all five races, Charles Whelan's Breaking Bod scored all thirds.
J/70 SPRINT SERIES
J/70 World Champion, Paul Ward's Eat Sleep J Repeat, leads the 23-strong J/70 Class after four high-octane races in the J/70 UK Class Sprint Series. 2020 UK Corinthian Champion, Charles Thompson's Brutus, is just two points behind in second. Peters & Calascione's Calypso is third, but only on countback from Martin Dent's Jelvis. Simon Patterson's Standfast took a race win to finish the day in fifth place.
XOD CLASS
Peter Baines leads the XOD Class. Andy Hamlett's Satu is second, just a point ahead of Andrew Bates' Iona.
North Sails support the Champagne Charlie June Regatta, providing performance tips in between races for all competitors, and sail service after racing on site at the Royal Southern Yacht Club. Charles Heidsieck provided complimentary champagne after racing. With numbers limited by social distancing, the tables dotted around the al fresco Quarter Deck were in much demand.
Spare a happy thought for the crew of J/70 Woof, skippered by Katie Greenland. An all-women crew with eight children between them, enjoying a summer regatta supported by Charles Heidsieck Champagne! Racing will conclude Sunday 13 June at the Royal Southern YC Champagne Charlie June Regatta.
For more information about the Royal Southern Yacht Club
www.royal-southern.co.uk
Full results available here.