RC1000 class returns for another summer of competitive racing in the South West
by Paul Gibbins 18 Apr 2022 20:22 AEST
RC1000 racing in Plymouth Sound © Paul Gibbins Photography / @paulgibbinsphotography
Following a highly successful inaugural season in 2021, the RC1000 fleet returns with more racing and a bigger fleet from across Devon & Cornwall. The RC1000 is an IRC rating-band class initiative based in Plymouth, creating a close racing-format for cruiser racers competing over 6 events across the season, scored as individual weekends and as a series.
The Royal Western Yacht Club continues to host all of the RC1000 Championship events, with 5 to count towards the series result. Racing inside Plymouth Sound and also offshore south of the breakwater, the racing comprises of a mixture of courses: Windward / Leeward, a 'round the cans' sprint race and a medium distance offshore race depending on conditions - 3 races per day.
The class is sponsored by Salcombe Gin and is supported by Ullman Sails, Allspars, Paul Gibbins Photography, Freshwater IT & Web, PR Systems, The Chandlery, Plym Yacht Club & the Royal Western Yacht Club.
The class takes inspiration from the RC35 class and was founded by Jon Harris and Jon Pegg of Ullman sails, who wanted to create some competitive racing in Plymouth, something not really seen since the early 2000's. Races are primarily Windward / Leeward aimed to be 45 to 60 minutes long with 3 races per day 1 weekend a month. August is left free of racing to allow for the usual holidays and not to impact on series results. Rules of the class allow boats with an IRC rating of 0.990 to 1.015. Over a 60 minute race the rating top to bottom of the class is one and a half minutes of corrected time to keep the racing close, something that remains a key component of yacht racing.
The first event is 23-24 April, with more Regattas in May, June, July, Sept & October. Details here. The Class will also be racing at the 2022 IRC Southwest Championship & the Plymouth Regatta 8-9 July.
Jon Harris, the Class Chairman said, "It's going to be a great summer of racing, we've got a terrific format and more fantastic boats to make for some extremely close racing. We've also got key sponsorship from Salcombe Gin and we continue to attract more commercial support from local Devon Marine businesses. Their help to get the fleet on the water is crucial and much appreciated by all the Skippers & crews."
Boats confirmed for the 2022 season:
Jump n Shout - Archembault 35
Altura - Beneteau 34.7
I say Ding Dong - Beneteau 34.7
Sunfire - Sunfast 3200
Ju Kyu - J109
Musk Ox - X362 Sport
Bandit - JPK 1010
BlackJack - First 35
Saltheart - Hod 35
Bada Bing - Humpherys 30
Luna - First 35
Amigos - Archembault 35
Sirduction - Hod 35
Xenia - X362s
Men Behaving Badly - A35
More information on the Class can be found here and online @raceclass1000 (FaceBook & Insta)