(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Morgan
Cup Race took the fleet from Cowes, east out the Solent, along the
southside of the Isle of Wight and the southwest coast of England to
Dartmouth and it proved to be a tough test. To make the finish, a
110-mile beat, required determination, even tenacity. After the fleet
received their finishing times, corrected under IRC, the results made
several significant changes to the standings for the RORC Season's
Points Championship, including the overall lead.Nigel Passmore's J/133, APOLLO 7, with an all-Devonian crew, were celebrating in Dartmouth after winning the Morgan Cup. "It was a great blast out of the Solent at the start," smiled Nigel. "Full on downwind, 150 degree wind angle, kite up and the breeze gusting up to 20 knots. We were soon approaching the Forts and decided to peel to a Code Zero, which was a real thrill. After hardening up, we dug in for a 110 mile beat. The big decision was whether we could make Portland Bill before the tide turned but that decision had to be made before Anvil Point and we decided to go for it.
We went tight in at Portland and got there just before the tide turned but we had to deal with a back eddy off the point straight after and we footed off, went for the Code Zero and powered our way through it. After that, it was all about driving through the waves, putting in fat tacks to keep up the speed. Definitely, the decisive move was staying in shore and that is where we pulled it off.
As we came into Dartmouth, it was pitch black with wind over tide causing a very lumpy seaway, so we waited until first light to get up the Dart. Most of the lads are from Plymouth, but we had a pasty and a couple of beers, waiting for the result before heading to our local pub. After all those long deliveries back and forwards to Cowes for races, it was a real indulgence to be so close to home at the finish and winning such a prestigious trophy on home soil - we are over the moon!"
Behind APOLLO 7 in IRC 2 class was the J/122 RELENTLESS ON JELLYFISH sailed by Chris Radford and James George, taking 4th in class.
In IRC Three, Kevin Armstrong's J/109 ME JULIE, a temporary replacement for their regular yacht, JAZZY JELLYFISH, crewed by the Summit Sailing Team, scored a very respectable second in IRC Three after a tremendous battle with Christopher Palmer's J/109, JE T’AIME. The two teams enjoyed a private duel for over 22 hours and just over six minutes separated the J/109's at the finish. Behind them in 6th was the J/105 DIABLO-J skippered by Nick Martin; 7th was the J/109 JARHEAD sailed by Greg Nasmyth; and in 8th was another J/109, RUAG WHIE KNIGHT 7 sailed by the Royal Armoured Corps Yacht Club crew and skipper Rob Hammond. Finally, in IRC 4 class, the J/97 HIGH JINKS sailed by Blair Forsyth took 3rd overall. For more RORC Morgan Cup sailing information
|
