(Cowes, Isle of Wight, England)- The European season of offshore racing
with the Royal Ocean Club started with 100 yachts competing for the
Cervantes Trophy race organized in association with the UNCL and the
destination yacht club Société des Regates du Havre. The 160nm race
started on the Royal Yacht Squadron Line to the east. Leaving Owers to
port, Rustington to starboard, A5 then General Metzinger to port and
finish.Nick Elliott, RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott reported: “The start was delayed by ten minutes due to a container ship going through then they all got away. A southerly wind of ten knots increased to about 15 knots giving a fast passage to Owers. As the fleet passed Owers the wind began to fade before building to 20 knots from the east.”
It was Gilles Fournier's J/133 PINTIA that took IRC Class 2 line honours and was the class and overall winner of the Cervantes Trophy on corrected time. Gilles races with a crew of family and friends based in Le Havre so the Cervantes Trophy Race is a firm favourite and as ever they proved most popular winners in their home club. Having won the class trophy 3 times, Gilles joked with the RORC Commodore at the prize-giving about how many times he would have to win the trophy before he could keep it! Taking 5th in IRC Class 2 was Andy Theobald’s J/122 R&W. For more RORC Offshore Season points championship sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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