The Espada racing. Picture by Paul Wyeth Marine Phototgraphy.
VIDEO
SAILINGGIRL power shone through on the final day of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge, with Cowes-based Louise Morton and her all-women crew on the Quarter Tonner, Espada, winning IRC 3 by three points.
In the Quarter Ton class, the 1981 Farr designed Espada was just one point ahead of Mike Till’s Bullet.
Espada had an all-girl crew full of talent as Louise explained: “Charlotte Lawrence runs the bow, as she has done for the last three years and is a tremendous prospect with the RYA Match Racing team.
“Vicky Lenz and Libby Deegan are highly experienced sailors and Deirdre Crampton represented Canada in the 2004 Olympics in the Yngling Class. On tactics is Lucy McGregor, who is currently listed third in the ISAF world rankings.”
The Solent served up some challenging, light air racing for the 64 yachts entered in the three-day regatta, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.
The young guns on Chernikeeff 2 from GBR Yacht Racing Academy, a charitable scheme run by UKSA, won IRC Super Zero after reeling off a hat trick of bullets.
“I am the oldest guy on the boat,” said 25-year-old skipper, Luke Cross.
“It is the same crew as last year and things are really coming together well and all of the crew are from UKSA in Cowes.
“We have been out for the last two weekends racing and I think that really helped, but it is always nice to get a win early in the season.”
Jonathan Green, sales and marketing director for Red Funnel presented the overall prizes to winners at Cowes Yacht Haven to successful competitors.
RORC racing manager, Ian Loffhagen, said: “The Red Funnel Easter Challenge once again lived up to its name; last year we had too much wind and this year the challenge was barely enough to race.
“The successful competitors were those who got their heads out of the boat and reacted to the changes in conditions with the correct wind and tidal strategies.”
Provisional overall results
Class IRC Super Zero (SZ) — 1 Chernikeeff 2, Farr 52, Peter Harrison, 2 John Merricks II, TP52, RYA Keelboat Programme, 3 Atomic of Cowes, Farr 45, Tony Langley; 4 Dark & Steamy, DK 46, Nick & Annie Haigh.
Class IRC Zero — 1 Tokoloshe, King 40, Michael Bartholomew, 2 Jammy Dodger, J 133, Neil Martin, 3 Foxy, MAT12, Jan-Willem Jannink, 4 Maverick 3, X41, Dominic Chappell.
Class IRC1 — 1 Vortex, X 35, Tim and Sophie Harrington, 2 Playing Around, First 40.7, Peter Robson, 3 Toe in the Water, Archambault A40 RC, Toe In the Water, 4 Deliverance 2, Dehler 39 SQ, Chris Shipman.
Class IRC2 — 1 No Retreat, Corby 33, David Riley, 2 No Doubt, First 34.7, Chris and Hannah Neve, 3 Astarte, First 34.7, Nicholas Jones, 4 Elaine, Elan 37, Mike Bridges.
Class IRC3 — 1 Espada, Louise Morton, Quarter Tonner, 2 Bullet, Quarter Tonner, Mike Till, 3 Runaway Bus, Quarter Tonner, Paul Kelsey, 4 Little Toe, J80, Toe In The Water.
Quarter Ton Class — 1 Espada, Louise Morton, 2 Bullet, Mike Till, 3 Runaway Bus, Paul Kelsey, 4 Diamond, Thomas Dawson.
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk
RORC Red Funnel Easter Challenge
Video by TKZ, visit www.cowes.co.uk
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