Fifth RC1000 Regatta at Royal Western Yacht Club

RC1000 fifth regatta of 2022 in Plymouth © Paul Gibbins Photography

Last weekend's regatta saw six races sailed over the weekend, run superbly by the Royal Western Yacht Club's race officer, Jerry Lock and his team, consisting of a mixture of W/L and longer races.

Going into the penultimate event for the series, the scores between the leading boats could not be closer, with just 6 points separating the top four boats. It was all to play for ahead of the final event of the series on the 8th and 9th October, which looks like being another close finish to a highly successful competitive series.

Saturday's wind of 10-15 knots, suited the two A35's, however Altura (Ben 34.7) - the leading series boat - posted a first and two seconds. Men Behaving Badly (Archambault A35) posted a 2nd and two 1st places to go into Sunday with a one point lead. Sunday was completely different with a wind strength of 5-10 knots, which played into Altura's hands, tipping the balance into her favour by being able to carry her big overlapping genoa to great effect in the light and fluky winds.

Massive wind shifts throughout all the three scheduled races during the day made for some big gains and losses across the course but Altura kept her nerve posting three 1st places to win the event from Men Behaving Badly who only managed to post a second, fourth and fifth ending up in second place.

The standard of sailing has improved exponentially within the RC1000 class. A prime example being with Altura peeling from an asymmetric to a symmetric kite, due to a shift in the wind, 300 meters from the downwind turning mark. An execution few would contemplate with such a short distance to go. But that is the level of competition and what the RC1000 class is all about.

With the ever consistent Musk Ox (X362s) always snapping at the heels of the top two boats to finish in a solid third place it is still down to the wire for the final event.

Adam James in Blackjack (First 35) has been progressively getting better throughout the series posting ever improving results and reacting to a last minute wind shift nailed the last start with the perfect port end flyer crossing the entire fleet. Posting two solid third places on the last two races to finish in fourth place.

The other Beneteau 34.7, I say Ding Dong, ended the weekend event with a solid and well sailed fourth place in the last race. Tom Dunstan with his Sunfast 3200, Little Wing, joined the RC1000 fleet for the first time this year moving down from his home port of Exmouth and was mightily impressed with the competitive racing on offer in the RC1000 class. Tom will be competing also in the last event on 8th and 9th October as will be David Goulden from Dartmouth in Bandit his JPK 1010.

Word is getting out on what fantastic and competitive racing we are having in Plymouth with Tom planning keeping his Sunfast 3200 here next year competing in all the 2023 series events. It's looking like many will follow with another First 35 joining the fleet for next year also.

All this is down to creating a class of similar type and size yachts to race together within a tight rating band. Not only does this make for such an enjoyable competitive experience but really sharpens up everyone's skills and boat handling.

Since beginning the RC1000 class two seasons ago the competition gets better and better and the racing even closer. The RC1000 class is achieving all its goals being a class driven by its members to offer the best competitive racing. Next year's dates for the six series events are now finalised and will be posted on the class website shortly.

New for next year will be a RC1000 National Championships on the 22nd & 23rd July 2023 and whilst counting towards the series results will also be a stand-alone National Championships, giving not just the local boats but all out of port boats which fit into the RC1000 category a chance of being crowned the RC1000 National Champion 2023.

A big fleet for this major event is anticipated, so get the dates in your diaries to experience such close racing for yourselves and see what you have all been missing.

The last event of the year is on 8th & 9th October when the series winner will be crowned. Still all to play for so nothing is certain yet. As they say it is not over until the "Fat Lady Sings". Great thanks as always go out to our RC1000 class sponsor Salcombe Gin and to all the class supporters.

The RC1000 Class is sponsored by Salcombe Gin and supported by local South West business: Freshwave IT & Web, All Spars, Ullman Sails, PR Marine Systems, The Chandlery Plymouth, Stoneways Insurance, the Royal Western YC and Paul Gibbins Photography. With an established committee, a class constitution and funding, the RC1000 continues to develop solid foundations to grow and create close competitive yacht racing in south west Devon.

Class website: rc1000.org

Overall Results: