YCW Weymouth Yacht Regatta 2021 & IRC Southern Area Championships
by Stephen Homan-Berry 20 Sep 2021 21:32 NZST
11-12 September 2021
Grand Surprise class winner “Passion” at the YCW Weymouth Yacht Regatta 2021 © Mike Jury
It really was a weekend of contrasts over the11th & 12th September for Weymouth Yacht Regatta which this year incorporated the IRC Southern Area Championships.
Saturday saw strong breeze from NE with 25knt gusts. Sunday saw the prevailing westerly re-establish itself, with racing postponed for an hour before a steady 6-10knt breeze around 11am. With flat seas, a variety of wind strengths and glorious sunshine, Weymouth Bay genuinely delivered champagne sailing conditions enjoyed by competitors and dolphins alike.
Trophies and prizes for the event were generously provided by sponsors: Bussells Chandlers, G.J. Owens Electrical Contractors, R&D Decorating SW Ltd, and Moatt Sails.
The trophy for highest placed visiting yacht was awarded to Ruthless helmed by Family Pearson from Parkstone Y C who won both IRC 3 and IRC Overall, becoming the IRC Southern Area Champion.
Winner of the overall Regatta across all classes and receiving the Nick Sharp Exit Trophy was Moonshadow 2, skippered by Mike Street.
A special Whyboats trophy, for highest placed local newcomer, was awarded to Samurai (Sonata) skippered by Andy Gaunt.
IRC 3
On day one, Family Pearson's "Ruthless" (Dehler 33) from Parkstone YC got 3 straight bullets, really excelling in the strong breeze. The following day it was a battle between the local J97's: Mark Bugler's "Saskia VII" and Jerry Thompson's "Jura" getting 1st and 2nd alternately in each of the two races on Sunday.
IRC 4
Contessa 32 "Moonshadow 2" prevailed on day one, with owner/helm Mike Street clearly revelling in the conditions. Colin Hall's J24 "Suspicion", racing under IRC4 rather than in the One Design, fleet came 2nd in two of the three races on Saturday.
"Suspicion" and Simon Ruddick's Archambault Surprise "Betty" took 1st place in each of the two races on Sunday, but these weren't enough to take the lead established by Moonshadow 2 for the overall IRC 4 regatta result.
J24
The J24s were closely contested with all line honours shared between two boats, with Cacoon skippered by Nye Davies from Poole Yacht Club 1st and Jawbreaker skippered by David Cooper from Saltash SC 2nd and 3rd was Majic skippered by James Torr also from Saltash SC.
Grand Surprise
This year the Archambault Grand Surprises had their own start, and a variety of windward/leeward courses. The overall Winner was Passion (skippered by Tom Rees) with three other boats all tied in second place - talk about tight racing! After count backs, Qu au Rhum 2 (skippered by Ricky Bruton) was 2nd and Bon Vacance (skippered by Gary Owens) was 3rd.
Squibs
Racing among the three WSC Squibs was dominated by Richard Frost and Allan Tyler in Saskia V.
A daily prize-giving at Weymouth SC on Saturday night was followed by superb range of food from the galley, live music and then an impromptu sing-along to the Last Night of the Proms.
Race Officer Peter Hopford and his team were warmly congratulated for faultless race management throughout. We were pleased to see entries from as far away as Cumbria and Cornwall. The next IRC Southern Area Championships will be hosted as part of Poole Regatta in 2022.
For more detail on this, along with full results and more photographs, please visit weymouthregatta.uk.