Camper & Nicholsons Yachting IRM Inshore Circuit 2nd Event
by Fiona Brown 24 Apr 2003 08:15 PDT
John Shepherd Takes Second Event In Camper & Nicholsons Yachting Ltd IRM Inshore Circuit 2003
A strong fleet of 10 boats took part in the latest event in the Camper & Nicholsons Yachting Ltd IRM Inshore Circuit at the RORC Red Funnel Easter Challenge from 18-20 April. With six races over three days and a wide range of conditions there was no lack of excitement on the water for the IRM teams.
Racing got underway on Friday afternoon in a moderate shifty breeze and in the first race it was the Farr 40s of David Murrin and Mark Heeley who had the legs on the fleet with John Shepherd’s Ker 11.3 taking third place. In race two it was all change as Shepherd took the line for the first time ahead of Heeley and Tim Dixon & Jon Manly in their IRM 10.7.
Day two brought over 30 knots of wind which resulted in a fair bit of gear failure and several retirements but thrilling downwind sailing with boats regularly hitting 20 knots. In race three it was Heeley who again took the victors spoils from Shepherd with the Farr 40 of Nick and Anne Haigh in third. In race four Heeley fell victim to the strong winds and headed home for an early bath leaving Shepherd to take his second win of the regatta from Nick Hartshorn in a Ker 11.3 and the Haighs.
Conditions began to moderate on Sunday morning and although racing started in a brisk 4-5 north easterly is dropped steadily through the afternoon as the sun came out to give the crews a splendid finale to the event. Two 4th places in races 5 and 6 were more than enough to give John Shepherd’s Kerr 11.3 “Fair Do’s V” the overall title, three points ahead of Mark Heeley’s GBR25 despite Heeley’s two wins on the final day. Last year’s Easter Challenge IRM winners, Nick and Anne Haigh in Farr 40 “Too Steamy”, scored a 3, 2 and had to be content with third overall. “Racing for us today was not so good as the other two days but overall, it was good fun and a great regatta. The organisation has been fantastic and the sailing has been good with varied conditions.” Commented John Shepherd after sailing.
The next event in the Camper & Nicholsons Yachting IRM Inshore Circuit will be leg two of the Spring Championships which take place from Warsash this coming weekend, 26 and 27 April.
For further information about the IRM Class Association please contact Steph Merry on Tel 02392 335218, E-mail SLMERRY@qinetiq.com or visit www.irmclass.com
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Boat Type | Owner | Handicap | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | GBR1106L | Fair Do's V | Ker 11.3 | John Shepherd | 1.048 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 15 |
| 2 | GBR25R | GBR25 | Farr 40 | Mark Heeley | 1.05 | 2 | 2 | 1 | DNF11 | 1 | 1 | 18 |
| 3 | GBR1640R | Too Steamy | Farr 40 | Nick & Anne Haigh | 1.045 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 23 |
| 4 | GBR1107L | El Gringo | Ker 11.3 | Nick Hartshorn | 1.048 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 27 |
| 5 | GBR10R | 2XL | Farr 40 | David Murrin | 1.045 | 1 | 4 | DNF11 | DNC11 | 5 | 3 | 35 |
| 6 | GBR107L | Roaring Meg | IRM 10.7 | Tim Dixon & Jon Manly | 1.025 | 4 | 3 | 4 | DNC11 | DNC11 | DNC11 | 44 |
| 7 | GBR4099L | Arbitrator | Sydney 40 | Steven Bailey | 1.046 | 8 | 5 | DNF11 | DNC11 | 6 | 6 | 47 |
| 8 | GBR1109L | Blue Belle | Ker 11.3 | Michael Cover | 1.048 | 9 | RDG7 | 6 | 4 | DNF11 | DNC11 | 48 |
| 9 | GBR6690R | Panther | Mumm 36 | James Stableford | 0.982 | 10 | 8 | DNF11 | DNC11 | 7 | 7 | 54 |
| 10 | GBR1035L | No Respect | One Design 35 | Christopher & Hannah Neve | 1.003 | 6 | DNF11 | DNC11 | DNC11 | DNC11 | DNC11 | 61 |