The Royal Ocean Racing Club Spring Series continues this weekend with Race 2 of the three-race series, designed to get teams back racing for the 2021 RORC Season.
The RORC Spring Series is open to IRC rated boats including an IRC Two-Handed Class and MOCRA rated multihulls. Online entry is open at: https://rorc.sailgate.com/
The Lombard 46 Pata Negra has been one of the most successful boats racing with the RORC in recent years. Pata Negra is returning to RORC racing in the Spring Series, under the new ownership of Andrew Hall. RORC Commodore, James Neville will be racing HH42 Ino XXX and will be the boat to beat having won last weekend’s race. Past RORC Commodore, Steven Anderson will be racing Corby 40 Cracklin Rosie. Ed Bell’s JPK 1180 Dawn Treader was just 44 seconds off the podium for last weekend’s race.
One of the lowest rated boats racing under IRC will be Ian Handley’s Mustang Mk2
Gr8 Banter, which is crewed by friends and family with co-owner Tim James. Gr8 Banter showed impressive form in last year’s Race the Wight, placing third overall in a fleet of over 100 starters.
“Time on the water is our aim for the race, especially to shake the rust off,” commented Ian Handley. “We have some really competitive boats that have a similar rating, especially Whooper and BLT. Our aim is always to do our best but at this stage of the season, we are looking to become familiar with the boat once more and look to improve our performance, especially with our set up which needs some improvement. It is looking quite windy this weekend and it will be a long race but above all we are just delighted to be able to race again.”
14 teams have entered the race in IRC Two-Handed including Tim Goodhew, racing Sun Fast 3200 Cora with Kelvin Matthews. The pair are firm friends looking to increase their performance with their gunsights set on this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race.
“I have sailed with my father, Nigel Goodhew, since I was a child and raced doublehanded together for ten years, but this will be the first race this year with Kelvin in Two-Handed mode,” explained Tim. “Over the last ten years, the Two-Handed Class has become really competitive and we find that very exciting. This weekend’s race is the start of our racing programme for the Rolex Fastnet Race, which is going to be amazing with a huge class of the best Two-Handed teams in the world.”
The RORC Spring Series Notice of Race requires that all crew shall comply with current Covid-19 guidelines, and with respect to social distancing at all times.
Image: Image: Andrew Hall's Lombard 46 Pata Negra © Rick Tomlinson