J/70s in the Royal Thames Yacht Club Annual Regatta, Grand Slam series and RORC Vice Admiral's Cup

J/70s in the Royal Thames YC Annual Regatta, Grand Slam series and RORC Vice Admiral's Cup © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

Royal Thames Yacht Club and RORC combined on the weekend of 7th/8th September to host the J/70 and Cape 31 fleets under the banner of their Annual Regatta & Vice Admirals Cup respectively with racing taking place on the Solent's Hill Head plateau.

For the J/70s, this event doubled as the fifth event in the UK J/70 Grand Slam series, kindly supported by Rooster, the sailing clothing company.

The 17-strong fleet faced a windless morning on Saturday but was called afloat by Principal Race Officer, Tom Rusbridge around midday. A race was started in a light southeasterly, but the strong west-going tide proved too much in the dying breeze and the race was abandoned in the late stages.

A Saturday night BBQ at the RORC clubhouse in Cowes was well attended by both fleets.

RORC social area - photo © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

Sunday morning looked more promising and the fleet went afloat on time, only to be greeted by torrential rain, thunder and lightning. However, this eventually cleared and a moderate SW breeze established itself across the course early enough to allow three races to be completed.

The starts were competitive and racing was extremely close throughout the fleet, with boats consistently arriving bow to stern at the windward marks. Downwind was tricky with wide sailing angles and only the skilful managing to goosewing successfully.

The first race was initially led by DSP (Marshall King, Doug Struth, Emma Hivey, Ross Banham, Alice Senior) by half a length at the first windward mark with Jelvis (Martin Dent, Ruby Dent, Rick Peacock, Krishan Bhogal) a close second, followed by Cosmic (Patrick Liardet, Paul Fuller, Billy Parker and Leo Wilkinson) and Jeepster (Max Clapp, Mathieu Cadei, Miles Jones, Felix Trattner).

J/70s in the Royal Thames YC Annual Regatta, Grand Slam series and RORC Vice Admiral's Cup - photo © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

At the leeward mark, Jelvis split tacks with DSP at the start of the second beat. A left shift up the second beat saw DSP drop to 4th, meaning race one went to Jelvis with Cosmic second and Jeepster third.

In race 2 Powerhouse (Bertie Fisher, Benno Marstaller, Tom Glaister, Will Timberlake) led all the way around and won comfortably. Offbeat (David Mcleman,Lucy Kennedy, Charlotte Rockett and George Sellwood) rounded second and held this position almost to the finish, just getting edged into third by DSP right on the finish line. Jelvis finished sixth in this race.

In the third race, Jelvis had a good start and great speed up the first beat to lead from DSP at the first mark with EV Experts (Tim Collins, Phil Taylor, Howard Farbrother, Glynn Williams), Powerhouse and Jeepster close behind. Despite a large vessel providing some additional excitement by steaming through the course on the final beat, Jelvis hung on for the win, with DSP second and Jeepster third.

Jelvis took the event on countback from DSP with Cosmic third overall, Jeepster fourth and Powerhouse 5th.

J/70s in the Royal Thames YC Annual Regatta, Grand Slam series and RORC Vice Admiral's Cup - photo © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

Overall Results:

J/70s in the Royal Thames YC Annual Regatta, Grand Slam series and RORC Vice Admiral's Cup - photo © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com