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Cora Wins the RORC Lewmar Cherbourg Race
6-7 September 2024
The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s finale for the 2024 RORC Season’s Points Championship was the traditional race to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.
The fleet of 71 boats was an impressive sight, starting to the east off the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, Cowes. Combined with JOG, the Lewmar Cherbourg Race attracted 235 sailors for the final offshore race of the RORC season.
After a spinnaker start in light airs, the main strategic judgment after leaving The Solent was choosing the best lane towards Cherbourg. The increase and shift in the gradient wind, along with the current in The English Channel, were crucial for optimal performance.
The overall winner, after IRC time correction, was the Sun Fast 3200 Cora, raced two-handed by Tim Goodhew & Kelvin Matthews. David McGough’s J/109 Just So placed second overall and won the JOG Series Points division. Jean-Lin Flipo’s J/99 Yalla! completed the podium, with all three podium boats racing in IRC Three.
In addition to overall victory, Cora also claimed wins in IRC Three and IRC Two-Handed, marking a successful end to the season for Tim Goodhew and Kelvin Matthews.
“A really nice way to close out the season,” commented Tim Goodhew from Cora. “Last year we won the final race, and it’s always nice to retain some of the silverware!” Despite the positive outcome, the Cherbourg race had a rocky start for Cora, as Tim explains.
“We were called over the line at the start by the Race Committee along with three other boats,” Tim confirmed. “We went straight back to restart and probably only lost about eight boat lengths in a 75-mile race. Some of the others took longer to turn around, which cost them much more. We spent the next six hours trying to catch up with our key competition, the J/99 Yalla!. Both of us had the same strategy of sailing west, knowing that new breeze was coming from the northeast and promising a big right shift over the course of the evening. However, the wind itself was quite variable, forcing us to make decisions on the fly. Our goal was to maximize our velocity towards Cherbourg to the south. We didn’t go as far west as Yalla!, which ultimately turned out well for us. We were in a good position when the shift came in and reaped the benefits.”
In IRC Two, Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster won by 17 minutes after IRC time correction from Gareth Edmondson’s JPK 1030 Insert Coin. Sun Fast 3600 Diablo, raced by Cal Finlayson & Maggie Adamson, finished third in IRC Three and IRC Two-Handed.
Ross Applebey shared, “The Scarlet Oyster team are pretty pleased! The exit from The Solent was painful; we were struggling for speed. Nothing was really working for us, but we managed to make some small gains. Knowing the conditions would ultimately change, we set ourselves up well after Bembridge Ledge. With the Code Zero up, we were making good VMG towards Cherbourg. Our strategy in the class was risky—we knew we could either win by being the furthest west or come last. Thankfully, our decision paid off, and we didn’t run out of wind before the shift arrived. The Scarlet Oyster crew has remained consistent over many miles, and we’ll be celebrating in Cherbourg!”
In IRC One, RORC Treasurer Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 Bulldog won by just over three minutes after IRC time correction, with Lawrence Herbert’s J/133 Corazon finishing second and Richard Powell’s First 40 Rogan Josh in third.
In IRC Four, David Cooper’s Dehler 38 Longue Pierre won the class by ten minutes after IRC time correction, beating Gareth Penn’s Contessa 32 Jemima of Farley. Dudley Stock’s X-302 Xtract rounded out the top three, finishing just 37 seconds ahead of James Holmes’ Laser 28 Blazer.
James Neville’s Carkeek 45 Ino Noir took Line Honours in the race and won the IRC Zero big boat Class. “A great way to end the season, the increase in wind came a bit later for us in terms of beating the smaller boats under IRC. However, we enjoyed a wonderful downwind race with smiles all around,” commented James Neville. “The 2025 season is going to be fantastic. Next for Ino Noir will be the Rolex Middle Sea Race, followed by the RORC Transatlantic Race, the Nelson’s Cup Series, and RORC Caribbean 600. After that, we’ll return to The Solent for the RORC Centenary program.”
The Royal Ocean Racing Club will celebrate the 2024 RORC Season’s Points Championship with the RORC Annual Dinner & Prize Giving at The Church House, Dean’s Yard, London, on Saturday, 23rd November. The RORC Yacht of the Year will be announced at this black-tie awards ceremony. The first 100 tickets are on sale at a special offer and are close to being sold out. For more information and online booking for this unmissable event, visit the RORC Website.
For further details and online entry for The Lewmar Cherbourg Race, please visit www.rorc.org.
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Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.
