Land Union September Regatta at Royal Southern Yacht Club - Day 1
by Louay Habib 18 Sep 15:44 PDT
17-19 September 2021
The first day of the Land Union September Regatta, hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, was an absolute belter with up to 15 knots of wind and bright sunshine for a magnificent fleet in the Solent.
Eight IRC and One Design Classes were in action, enjoying well organised racing. A cracking social at the Royal Southern's prestigious yacht club on the banks of the River Hamble was to follow. Olympic Gold medallist, world champions, and passionate Corinthian sailors, young and old, enjoyed a perfect al fresco gathering. Regatta supporters Land Union provided free beer, pretzels, and frankfurters. While the sailors discussed the day's racing, the Bierkeller Boys performed a live set with their Oom-pah Band. A perfect end to a special day on the water.
HP30 Class National Championship
The HP30 National Championship started with three races on Friday 17th September. After six races, Glyn Locke's Farr 280 Toucan has retained the lead scoring two bullets on Day Two. Lucian Stone's FarEast 28 Vendetta was in sparkling form today, scoring a 5-1-2 to claim second place, just a point ahead of Jerry Hill's Farr 280 Moral Compass. Vendetta's performance was even more remarkable as they had to make running repairs to their spinnaker out on the racecourse! Jonathan Powell's Farr 280 drops to fourth, but still in the hunt for a podium finish for the HP30 National Championship.
IRC One
Close racing in the big boat IRC Class resulted in three different race winners, and a tie for first place at the top of the leaderboard. James Gair's Mills 39 Zero II won the first race and led the class going into the last race of the day. However, Michael Blair & Stevie Beckett's King 40 Cobra finished the day with a race win to lead the class on countback from Zero II. David Cummins' Ker 39 Rumbleflurg scored a race win today enough to give the team third place, also on countback, from Tony & Sally Mack's J/111 McFly.
Cape 31
Michael Bartholomew and his son David are no strangers to the Cape 31 Class having raced the Mills design in both Table Bay, Cape Town and the Solent. Mike's new Cape 31 Tokoloshe IV was racing for the first time today and that experience coupled with a dynamite crew resulted in a 2-1-1 to top the Cape 31 leaderboard. Russell Peters Squirt scored a 1-2-3 to finish the day in second place, two points off the lead. Lance Adams' KataBatic is in third place by virtue of countback, having scored equal points with Johnny Cooper's Fanatic.
"A tricky day with the conditions just about providing some planing for the Cape 31 Class," commented Squirt's Russell Peters. "Today was as much about tactics as boat speed, the Cape 31 is tremendous fun to sail, especially when racing is as close as it was today."
IRC Two
There was an impressive hattrick of bullets for Team Knight Build's J/112E Happy Daize skippered by James Chalmers. Mike Moxley's HOD 35 Malice and Mike Bridges' JPK1010 Elaine Again are both locked on eight points, Malice is second by virtue of countback. Happy Daize is odds-on to win the class tomorrow but will be very aware that if they continue their performance, the team will be in the running for the overall win for the Royal Southern Summer Series.
IRC Three
A clean sweep for Phil Plumtree's Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble puts the team well in command of IRC Three. Olly & Sam Love's SJ320 Frank3 is in second place after some very close racing with Becky Walford's J/92 Brenda's J and Ian Handley and Tim James' Mustang 30 Banter. Brenda's J is third in class after three races.
"A great crew and a lot of fun," commented Phil Plumtree whose crew include some very experienced locals including Led, Ben, Stan and Santy who won this year's Quarter Ton Cup on Protis. "We needed to race well as there are some really competitive boats in the class. An excellent day on the water, and we are looking forward to more of the same tomorrow."
Club Class
Jonty Sherwill's classic dayboat Cockleshell maybe the smallest boat in the Club Class, but on the first day of the regatta Cockleshell won all three races after VPRS time correction. Teresa Whelan's X342 Xarifa was second in every race after time correction. Graham Nixon's Elan 40 Magic took line honours in all three races but finished the day in third place after time correction.
J/70 Class
The J/70 UK Class enjoyed thrilling racing today with six short sharp windward leeward races as part of their Sprint Series. Simon Patterson's Standfast scored all podium results today, including two bullets and that consistency means that Standfast to lead the class. Doug Struth's DSP won three races today, but the level was at such intensity that their two races off podium put DSP in second place by just two points. Timothy Dickinson's Jelly Fish is new to the class but showed impressive form, winning race three and scoring well all day, rewarded the family team from Hayling Island with third after six races.
"It was another great day on the Solent for the J/70 fleet," commented Standfast's Simon Patterson. "Terrific sailing conditions, tight competitive racing in a diverse fleet of talented sailors, easy access and top organisation from the Royal Southern, skilled race officering getting six races away promptly and efficiently - and a superb social event hosted by our sponsor Land Union."
XOD Class
Peter Baines has vast experience in the XOD Class and that showed today winning the first two races on windward leeward courses with Felix. However, David McGregor's Athena won the final race of the day to equal Felix on points. Gary Rossall Little X is just a point behind the leaders to set up a final showdown tomorrow.
The Land Union September Regatta, and the Royal Southern Summer Series, will conclude tomorrow Sunday 19th September.
Full results here...
For more information about the Royal Southern Yacht Club www.royal-southern.co.uk