RC35 Class at the Bangor Regatta
by Jono Shelley 4 Jul 01:58 PDT
27-30 June 2024
Storm during the Bangor Regatta © Simon McIlwaine /
www.wavelengthimage.com
Following on from the recent North Channel Race to Bangor, the RC35 fleet from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland convened to do battle as part of the truly excellent 4-day Bangor Regatta.
Before we get stuck into the racing, just to call out the Royal Ulster Yacht Club and Bangor Marina for the warm welcome, extra mile organisation and 'proper' social. Many crews could be heard voting it as their best event in years as the jumped up and down to live music, full of Guinness with an outstanding view of the racecourse.
On the water, a dozen boats, with some new friends as part of IRC2, started the series with a coastal race in gusts up of to 40 knots leading to both some boat speed and wipe out PB's. Jings was a key participant in both categories but definitely won the latter! Storm set the precedent early of leading and continuing to widen the gap with Banshee second after a ballsy call to pop up a bigger kite than anyone else dared on the final final downwind, followed by Mocking-J in 3rd.
Day 2 was a 'Carlsberg' sailing day. There was sun (sometimes at least) gusts into the mid 20's and quite a few pressure and direction shifts to play with. Storm did their impressive thing again with boat speed to burn, winning all 3 races.
Final Call and Mocking-J traded podium blows and Banshee, BlueJay and Jacob all had top 4's and 5's.
Day 3 had lighter winds, a delayed start, and only 2 races - but both very close ones. BlueJay found the sport button and took a race off Storm, the only ones to do so, and backed it up with a 3 bringing them into contention overall. Banshee also had a great day on the water with a 2,3 further narrowing the gap at the front of the fleet, with Final Call and Mocking-J less convincing in the lighter winds. Saturday night was an absolute belter starting with a dock party kindly laid on by John Minnis (and his mum!) with many crews partying like the event must be over.
It wasn't - there was a lot to play for on the final day. The first race saw a new triangle course and some massive shifts and pressure changes. Storm was still out in front and won the race and the regatta comfortably (with a race to spare). Jacob was robbed of a certain top 3 by a big shift on the last beat, Blue Jay and Final Call instead secured second and third. Positions 4-8 were governed by just 25 seconds on corrected time showing just how close the margins are in this highly competitive class of well matched boats.
With crews frantically doing the maths and then deciding it was too complex, any one of 4 boats could secure the podium places as the final race got under way with the breeze now 12-15k. Final call and MockingJ showed first and held positions in that order with an incredibly close chasing pack. Jings demonstrated that a gybe set into pressure is super fast and came through for third.
Overall family Kelly in Storm took a convincing victory (a third in a row at Bangor at least!) with Final Call second, taking Mocking-J on a last race count back, and Banshee ahead of BlueJay in 4th and 5th overall respectively.
The fleet now has a summer break before Largs regatta week at the of August. Well sailed all.
Overall Results at Bangor Regatta can be found here.