J/133 BATFISH III Third in IRC Zero
(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England- June 26th)- Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Royal Thames Yacht Club, the Yacht Club de Cherbourg and the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Morgan Cup race goes from RYS Cowes to the East, then 95 miles across The Channel (La Manche) to Cherbourg, France. The course to Cherbourg was a good test of the fleet's ability to race at different wind angles and their ability to call tactics using the tidal effects of the English Channel to speed their passage to France.
One hundred and seven yachts entered the RORC Morgan Cup Race. This is the third RORC offshore race this season where the number of yachts racing has exceeded a hundred, an unprecedented level of participation in the history of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Overall, the J's sailing this race had good showings in three IRC classes. In IRC Class Zero, Bill Blain's well-campaigned J/133, BATFISH III, was third. David Richard's J/122, JOLLY JELLYFISH, was third in IRC Class One. In the IRC Double-Handed Division Nick Martin's J/105, DIABLO J, finished second.