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13.07.2011
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Press Release
Breeze On For Day 2 of
2011 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup
Cowes, UK - 12 July 2011 - Day 2 of the 2011 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup delivered decidedly
less sun but happily plenty more wind. With a solid twelve knot north-easterly blowing
from early morning, the competitors were released from the marina at 09.00 and racing
started bang on time at 10.30. After a couple of general recalls caused by the fleet's
collective over-enthusiasm, Race 4 of the series eventually got away at the third
time of asking. From the very first beat Louise Morton's 'Espada' helmed by Colette
Blair, Rob Gray on 'Aguila' and 'Cote' owned by Darren Marston and Olly Ophaus,
were all engaged in a nip and tuck battle at the front of the fleet. There was nothing
between all three of these boats for the entire race with each of them taking the
lead at various points. In the end 'Aguila' crossed the line overlapped with 'Espada'
to take the line honours victory, with 'Cote' just two boatlengths back in third
place on the water. On handicap however 'Espada' squeaked to victory by just a
single second ahead of 'Aguila' in second place. 'Cote' had to concede third place
to Ian Southworth's 'Whiskers' by 5 seconds on corrected time, pushing 'Cote' down
to fourth, ahead of Paul Treliving's 'Odd Job' in fifth.
The breeze had reduced by a couple of knots by the time the fleet lined up for the
start of Race 4. However the startline enthusiasm of the fleet reindexed undiminished,
forcing another General Recall before the race could eventually get away. Rickard
Melander on 'Alice II' won the committee boat end of the line and took an early
lead going up the first beat. By the top mark though it was 'Espada' and 'Cote'
who were fighting it out for the lead once again. These two boats continued to play
a cat and mouse game with each other for the rest of the race, with 'Espada' eventually
gaining control to take the win on the water by 10 seconds. This was good enough
to give the 'Espada' crew their second corrected time race win of the day, ahead
of 'Cote' in second and 'Whiskers' in third. Fourth was 'Alice II' with 'Panic'
owned by Paul & Mark Lees taking fifth.
With conditions moderating a little more and just the hint of rain in the air, Race
5 got away under a Black Flag. With two wins under their belts, the 'Espada' crew
were now on a roll and saw off sustained challenges from 'Kote', 'Alice II', Eamonn
Rohan's 'Anchor Challenge', as well as George Kenefick's 'Tiger' to take another
first both on the water and on corrected time. 'Tiger' corrected out into second,
with 'Cote' third, 'Alice II' fourth and 'Anchor Challenge' fifth.
The various attempts to start the final race of the day involved a variety of penalty
flags and resulted in 5 boats receiving Z-Flag penalties and a further 5 disqualified
under the Black Flag rule. The Irish crew on 'Anchor Challenge' finally found their
true form to take a line honours and corrected time win, ahead of 'Whiskers' in
second and the ever present 'Espada' in third. John Welch on 'Phoenix' took fourth
with Jamie McDowell & Brett Linton's New Zealand entry 'Blackfun' awarded fifth
place after incurring a Z-Flag penalty.
With all of the scheduled 6 races completed and the regatta now back on track, the
results show a new overall leader in the shape of Louise Morton's 'Espada'. Their
impressive 1,1,1,3 scoreline for the day sees them hold a 16 point lead going into
the final three races tomorrow over Ian Southworth's second placed 'Whiskers'. Yesterday's
overnight leader, Rob Gray on 'Aguila', has dropped down to third tonight, just
1 point behind 'Whiskers' and 6 points ahead of George Kenefick's 'Tiger' in fourth.
Rounding out the top 5 at the end of Day 2 is Eamonn Rohan's 'Anchor Challenge'.
In the newly introduced and hotly contested all ISAF certified amateur Corinthian
Division, George Kenefick's 'Tiger' tops the leaderboard from Laurent Beaurin's
'45 South' in second and 'Lancelot' owned by Matt Clark & Tony Thackray.
On the eve of the final day of racing the fleet assembled at the Royal Corinthian
Yacht Club for the regatta gala dinner and enjoyed a fantastic after dinner speech
from British singlehanded yachtswoman Sam Davies about her exploits in the Vendee
Globe around the world race.
Racing at the 2011 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup concludes Wednesday 13 July with three
more races scheduled.
For further information about the 2011 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup please visit www.rcyc.co.uk
or contact Jo Chugg,Sailing Secretary, Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, The Parade,
Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7QU, E-mail jo.chugg@sigma33.com [mailto:jo.chugg@sigma33.com],
Tel +44 (0)1983 293581.
Members of the press requiring further information or images should contact RCYC
Press Officer Justin Chisholm on E-mail justin@justinchisholmsolutions.com [mailto:justin@justinchisholmsolutions.com]
or Tel +44 (0)7769 938722.
For further information about Coutts please contact Antony Antoni on e-mail Antony.antoni@coutts.com
visit www.coutts.com
For further information about the Quarter Ton Class please contact Louise Morton,
Class Secretary on e-mail louise@quartertonclass.com
Revived Coutts Quarter Ton Cup Winners
2005 - Purple Haze (1977 David Thomas design) - Tony Dodd
2006 - Enigma - (1977 Ed Dubois design) - Ed Dubois
2007 - Espada - (1980 Bruce Farr design) - Peter Morton
2008 - Tom Bombadil (1982 Doug Peterson design) - Chris Frost & Kevin George
2009 - Anchor Challenge (1978 Bruce Farr design) - Peter Morton
2010 - Cote (1990 Gonzalez design) - Darren Marston & Olly Ophaus
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
Jo Chugg
Sailing Secretary
www.rcyc.co.uk
www.quartertonclass.org
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