RACE1 KER 11.3

"The Road to Ramsgate"
- Peter Jackson & Frazer Clark. (Yachts & Yachting) Late August, 2001

The Woolwich Ramsgate Week 2001 (hosted by the Royal Temple YC, August ll-18) seemed little affected by small problems such as the clash with the last weekend of Cowes Week - a necessary evil due to the aIl-important French/Belgian national holiday dates.

The substantial overseas entry (traditionally a strong point of the regatta), including the Dutch now moving from IRM to IRC, increased this season to around 20 per cent of the total WRW entry, strengthening the event's strong international flavour.

Entries on the first weekend were slightly down - many owners and their crews were still on the 14-hour dash from Cowes - but by the start of the full week, proper entries were up again by over 10 per cent on last year.

The X-99 nationals fleet, however, was small, not reaching double figures. Perhaps this was not surprising after the two week national and world championships at the Royal Temple YC's last year and the move of several owners towards X-332s and X-362s. The strong IRC hotspots of Burnham, West Mersea, Medway and Felixstowe/Harwich were well represented, plus the lively contingent from Brighton, and increasing numbers from further afield.

A big bonus for the Royal Temple YC (which overlooks the historic harbour) has been the addition of a new 200-berth west outer marina, housing most of the fleet on pontoon berths (allowing access at all states of the tide) and bringing the total number of berths to more than 800.

Among those doing the dash from the south coast were three top Ker 11.3s, including Michael White's Queens Cup winner 'On A High', as well as the J-39 'Assassin', current Sail East championship leader. They were rewarded with near Caribbean sailing conditions - blue sea and sky, blazing sunshine and mostly 15-20 knot breezes.

The onshore hospitality at Ramsgate Week is legendary and suitably epic in nature.This year featured live bands and a supply of free beer tokens. Everyone, from crews to subsponsors seemed happy and it just goes to show how decent wind and a bit of sun make any competitor's world a happier place.

Up for grabs was the RTeYC impressive array of historic trophies and warehouse full of engraved crystal glassware. Racing was in four IRC classes, including three Sail East championship races on the first weekend, also contributing to a full week series and a midweek series of one race per day including alternate Olympic-type course days, culminating in the Ramsgate Gold Cup and class one Queen Elizabeth II trophy on the final Saturday.

The long association with The Woolwich is due to continue for one more year but discussions with potential new main sponsors are already beginning. The club's aim is to continue to increase the size, profile and professionalism of what many hardworking yachtsmen in the South East - and particularly at the Royal Temple YC - have built into a successful and well run regatta, ideally situated between Cowes and Burnham Weeks.

Midweek Series - Class 1:
The arrival of the three Ker 11.3s heated up the front of Class 1. The quickest was Michael White's Ramsgate-based 'On a High', steered by legendary racer Phil Crebbin, with a local crew. David Pinner and his team on 'Cracker' were only just getting to know the boat, which was on charter at Cowes, as was 'Minnie the Moocher', both needing repair work to compete. The 11.3s, designed for IRM, have proved competitive under IRC and 'On a High' started positively with two wins, the first from Nigel Theadom's 'Crikey' and 'Assassin', the second from 'Ding Dong' - now with David Townsend at the helm.

The breeze was brisk throughout and frequently exceeded 20 knots later in the week. 'Ding Dong' loved this and hit back with wins in the next two races from 'On a High' and 'Assassin', and 'On a High' and 'Cracker', to even the score. Friday started light, but after a 90-minute postponement it was back to Force 4. Crebbin jumped the gun and 'Ding Dong' and 'Assassin' were locked together at the front.

The Ker recovered to lead, but as the wind increased to a Force 6, 'Ding Dong' stretched away from 'Assassin', easily saving her time on the Ker to take the gun... and the series. The top foreign yacht was Roland Claey's Sigma 400 'NRJ (energy) Ball' which seemed to like the stiff breezes and came third in the full week series behind 'Ding Dong' and 'Assassin'.

Gold Cup & Queen Elizabeth II Trophies
The final race is now solely the individual Ramsgate Gold Cup event with the QEII Cup for Class1 and other class trophies. The winds had eased to a Force 2-3 for the first time in fortnight and a 25 mile course was chosen with a large loop inside the Goodwin Sands, through the line, and with a small loop round the RTeYC marks off Ramsgate. The course was actually reversed, to avoid a long run against the strongest tide down the Gull Stream, although this precluded the easiest option of shortening if the six-hour time limit was nearing.

‘Blue Imp’ (Class4) shot away in the light airs but ran out of breeze as the tide slackened at the second mark. ‘On a High’ from Class 1, starting 30 minutes later and rounded first, followed by ‘Minnie the Moocher’, with Anthony Richards steering, and ‘Assassin’, at last able to use her big genoas battling with the Ker 11.3’s. Close behind were ‘Cracker’, the Prima 38 ‘Fiona VIII’, and the Class 2 speedster ‘Waveplane’, now back to a metal mast.

Running against a building tide and playing the gybe angles, the two leading Kers, ‘Assassin’ (with Jackson steering), and ‘Fiona VIII’ with Rob Dyer on the helm slipped round the mark and were away. The wind faded briefly as the fleet clamoured for clean air, but gradually the breeze built up to around 10 knots for the rest of the race. As the leaders went through the fixed start/finish line, too early to shorten, the J-39 (handicap 1.072) was easily saving her time on the Kers (1.157) with ‘Cracker’ slipping through only late in the race. The Prima didn’t like it so light, but held onto ‘Assassin’ all the way in.

With the wind now building slightly, the smaller classes were making a comeback; ‘Passegeule’, ‘Waveplane’, ‘KonchoB’ and ‘Mr Lifter’ in particular looked to be amongst the chocolates, but time was running out .... ‘On a High’ finished 45 minutes inside the time limit, but the limit definition was from each class start time, plus 90 minutes after the first boat in class. The first light mist of the week meant the race officer had lost track of the fleet and didn’t use the committee boat option, so the Class 2-4 leaders were out of time. Jury chairman John Truett dismissed a protest but it was promised that the wording would be amended for next year.

‘On a High’ pipped ‘Fiona’ for second place and ‘Crikey’ (which also prefers it light), took fourth place but it was, after two windy weeks, ‘Assassins’s’ day and Peter Jackson held up the QEII Cup and Gold Cup for the third time as helmsman but, after two second places, the first time as an owner.




		WOOLWICH RAMSGATE WEEK 2001. "The Road to Ramsgate" - Peter Jackson & Frazer Clark. (Yachts & Yachting) Late August, 2001 The Woolwich Ramsgate Week 2001 (hosted by the Royal Temple YC, August ll-18) seemed little affected by small problems such as the clash with the last weekend of Cowes Week - a necessary evil due to the aIl-important French/Belgian national holiday dates. The substantial overseas entry (traditionally a strong point of the regatta), including the Dutch now moving from IRM to IRC, increased this season to around 20 per cent of the total WRW entry, strengthening the event's strong international flavour. Entries on the first weekend were slightly down - many owners and their crews were still on the 14-hour dash from Cowes - but by the start of the full week, proper entries were up again by over 10 per cent on last year. The X-99 nationals fleet, however, was small, not reaching double figures. Perhaps this was not surprising after the two week national and world championships at the Royal Temple YC's last year and the move of several owners towards X-332s and X-362s. The strong IRC hotspots of Burnham, West Mersea, Medway and Felixstowe/Harwich were well represented, plus the lively contingent from Brighton, and increasing numbers from further afield. A big bonus for the Royal Temple YC (which overlooks the historic harbour) has been the addition of a new 200-berth west outer marina, housing most of the fleet on pontoon berths (allowing access at all states of the tide) and bringing the total number of berths to more than 800. Among those doing the dash from the south coast were three top Ker 11.3s, including Michael White's Queens Cup winner 'On A High', as well as the J-39 'Assassin', current Sail East championship leader. They were rewarded with near Caribbean sailing conditions - blue sea and sky, blazing sunshine and mostly 15-20 knot breezes. The onshore hospitality at Ramsgate Week is legendary and suitably epic in nature.This year featured live bands and a supply of free beer tokens. Everyone, from crews to subsponsors seemed happy and it just goes to show how decent wind and a bit of sun make any competitor's world a happier place. Up for grabs was the RTeYC impressive array of historic trophies and warehouse full of engraved crystal glassware. Racing was in four IRC classes, including three Sail East championship races on the first weekend, also contributing to a full week series and a midweek series of one race per day including alternate Olympic-type course days, culminating in the Ramsgate Gold Cup and class one Queen Elizabeth II trophy on the final Saturday. The long association with The Woolwich is due to continue for one more year but discussions with potential new main sponsors are already beginning. The club's aim is to continue to increase the size, profile and professionalism of what many hardworking yachtsmen in the South East - and particularly at the Royal Temple YC - have built into a successful and well run regatta, ideally situated between Cowes and Burnham Weeks. Midweek Series - Class 1: The arrival of the three Ker 11.3s heated up the front of Class 1. The quickest was Michael White's Ramsgate-based 'On a High', steered by legendary racer Phil Crebbin, with a local crew. David Pinner and his team on 'Cracker' were only just getting to know the boat, which was on charter at Cowes, as was 'Minnie the Moocher', both needing repair work to compete. The 11.3s, designed for IRM, have proved competitive under IRC and 'On a High' started positively with two wins, the first from Nigel Theadom's 'Crikey' and 'Assassin', the second from 'Ding Dong' - now with David Townsend at the helm. The breeze was brisk throughout and frequently exceeded 20 knots later in the week. 'Ding Dong' loved this and hit back with wins in the next two races from 'On a High' and 'Assassin', and 'On a High' and 'Cracker', to even the score. Friday started light, but after a 90-minute postponement it was back to Force 4. Crebbin jumped the gun and 'Ding Dong' and 'Assassin' were locked together at the front. The Ker recovered to lead, but as the wind increased to a Force 6, 'Ding Dong' stretched away from 'Assassin', easily saving her time on the Ker to take the gun... and the series. The top foreign yacht was Roland Claey's Sigma 400 'NRJ (energy) Ball' which seemed to like the stiff breezes and came third in the full week series behind 'Ding Dong' and 'Assassin'. Gold Cup & Queen Elizabeth II Trophies The final race is now solely the individual Ramsgate Gold Cup event with the QEII Cup for Class1 and other class trophies. The winds had eased to a Force 2-3 for the first time in fortnight and a 25 mile course was chosen with a large loop inside the Goodwin Sands, through the line, and with a small loop round the RTeYC marks off Ramsgate. The course was actually reversed, to avoid a long run against the strongest tide down the Gull Stream, although this precluded the easiest option of shortening if the six-hour time limit was nearing. ‘Blue Imp’ (Class4) shot away in the light airs but ran out of breeze as the tide slackened at the second mark. ‘On a High’ from Class 1, starting 30 minutes later and rounded first, followed by ‘Minnie the Moocher’, with Anthony Richards steering, and ‘Assassin’, at last able to use her big genoas battling with the Ker 11.3’s. Close behind were ‘Cracker’, the Prima 38 ‘Fiona VIII’, and the Class 2 speedster ‘Waveplane’, now back to a metal mast. Running against a building tide and playing the gybe angles, the two leading Kers, ‘Assassin’ (with Jackson steering), and ‘Fiona VIII’ with Rob Dyer on the helm slipped round the mark and were away. The wind faded briefly as the fleet clamoured for clean air, but gradually the breeze built up to around 10 knots for the rest of the race. As the leaders went through the fixed start/finish line, too early to shorten, the J-39 (handicap 1.072) was easily saving her time on the Kers (1.157) with ‘Cracker’ slipping through only late in the race. The Prima didn’t like it so light, but held onto ‘Assassin’ all the way in. With the wind now building slightly, the smaller classes were making a comeback; ‘Passegeule’, ‘Waveplane’, ‘KonchoB’ and ‘Mr Lifter’ in particular looked to be amongst the chocolates, but time was running out .... ‘On a High’ finished 45 minutes inside the time limit, but the limit definition was from each class start time, plus 90 minutes after the first boat in class. The first light mist of the week meant the race officer had lost track of the fleet and didn’t use the committee boat option, so the Class 2-4 leaders were out of time. Jury chairman John Truett dismissed a protest but it was promised that the wording would be amended for next year. ‘On a High’ pipped ‘Fiona’ for second place and ‘Crikey’ (which also prefers it light), took fourth place but it was, after two windy weeks, ‘Assassins’s’ day and Peter Jackson held up the QEII Cup and Gold Cup for the third time as helmsman but, after two second places, the first time as an owner.