THE ROLEX COMMODORE'S CUP 2002

- Philip Crebbin. 21st August, 2002

No less than 7 Race1 Ker 11.3 yachts competed in the Rolex Commodore’s Cup for different teams, more than any other type of boat in the event. This created a fantastically hard fought one-design competition within the overall handicap results. In the inshore race series that had the more regular sailing conditions (unlike the parking lots and tidal gates of the long distance races) the 11.3s were very prominent in the results. They won 3 of the races and also had two seconds and two thirds on corrected time.

Natti Vee of the Commonwealth team, chartered by Nick Harrison and skippered by Rob Greenhalgh, ended up being the top points scorer in the inshore races over the whole Commodore’s Cup fleet. This followed on from the boat’s winning the New York Yacht Club Cup in Cowes Week, the only trophy of the week decided with Class 0 and Class 1 combined. Anthony Richards’ Minnie the Moocher, of the Wales team, was the best 11.3 in the long races of the Commodore’s Cup and was top scorer of the 11.3s in the whole event, finishing a very good 6th overall behind only the best of the lower rating cruiser-racers that were favoured in the long races, with Natti Vee in 7th overall.

The Commonwealth team, with two Race1 Ker 11.3s (Natti Vee and Blue Belle, the latter chartered by Tony Clare and Peter Harrison and skippered by Philip Crebbin) and Peter Harrison’s Farr 52 Chernikeef, were the overall winners of the Seahorse Trophy for the top inshore team. Chris Bull’s 11.3, Kerisma, was part of the English Red team that finished 3rd team overall in the event.

Several top level sailors who were sailing on the 11.3s during the event were very excited by the boats and the excellent racing and competition they provided. It was a common quote that these boats should be the grand prix one-design racing boats of the future. They commented:-

Mark Rushall: "I have been a fan of the Race1 Ker 11.3 since I first steered one in the RTI race in 2001. The boat is fast and sensitive enough to keep small boat sailors like myself fully interested, but sufficiently forgiving that less experienced owners / charterers can have good, safe fun too. It was great to have "no quarters" one-design racing in a fleet of seven 11.3s in the Commodore’s Cup, and impressive that this true racing boat is so competitive in IRC, which is essentially a cruising boat rule. I can’t wait for some IRM events with a similar format!"

Pete Newlands: "Racing against the Race1 Ker 11.3s in Cowes Week was tough. Racing on one in the Commodore’s Cup was easy. The sail controls and cockpit layout work very well and it is easy to hit the performance targets, making the sailing a pleasure and enabling concentration on strategy and tactics rather than just fighting the boat. The Race1 boat preparation and support was excellent."

Andy Meiklejohn: "I have sailed all over the world in many different sizes and concepts of boats and found the racing offered in the Race1 Ker 11.3 fleet to be immensely close and great fun. The boats are easy to sail but still with enough tricks to keep you working the whole way round the track."




		GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE RACE1 KER 11.3 IN THE ROLEX COMMODORE'S CUP. - Philip Crebbin. 21st August, 2002 No less than 7 Race1 Ker 11.3 yachts competed in the Rolex Commodore’s Cup for different teams, more than any other type of boat in the event. This created a fantastically hard fought one-design competition within the overall handicap results. In the inshore race series that had the more regular sailing conditions (unlike the parking lots and tidal gates of the long distance races) the 11.3s were very prominent in the results. They won 3 of the races and also had two seconds and two thirds on corrected time. Nick Harrison's "Natti Vee", winner of Inshore Series. Natti Vee of the Commonwealth team, chartered by Nick Harrison and skippered by Rob Greenhalgh, ended up being the top points scorer in the inshore races over the whole Commodore’s Cup fleet. This followed on from the boat’s winning the New York Yacht Club Cup in Cowes Week, the only trophy of the week decided with Class 0 and Class 1 combined. Anthony Richards’ Minnie the Moocher, of the Wales team, was the best 11.3 in the long races of the Commodore’s Cup and was top scorer of the 11.3s in the whole event, finishing a very good 6th overall behind only the best of the lower rating cruiser-racers that were favoured in the long races, with Natti Vee in 7th overall. The Commonwealth team, with two Race1 Ker 11.3s (Natti Vee and Blue Belle, the latter chartered by Tony Clare and Peter Harrison and skippered by Philip Crebbin) and Peter Harrison’s Farr 52 Chernikeef, were the overall winners of the Seahorse Trophy for the top inshore team. Chris Bull’s 11.3, Kerisma, was part of the English Red team that finished 3rd team overall in the event. Several top level sailors who were sailing on the 11.3s during the event were very excited by the boats and the excellent racing and competition they provided. It was a common quote that these boats should be the grand prix one-design racing boats of the future. They commented:- Mark Rushall: "I have been a fan of the Race1 Ker 11.3 since I first steered one in the RTI race in 2001. The boat is fast and sensitive enough to keep small boat sailors like myself fully interested, but sufficiently forgiving that less experienced owners / charterers can have good, safe fun too. It was great to have "no quarters" one-design racing in a fleet of seven 11.3s in the Commodore’s Cup, and impressive that this true racing boat is so competitive in IRC, which is essentially a cruising boat rule. I can’t wait for some IRM events with a similar format!" Pete Newlands: "Racing against the Race1 Ker 11.3s in Cowes Week was tough. Racing on one in the Commodore’s Cup was easy. The sail controls and cockpit layout work very well and it is easy to hit the performance targets, making the sailing a pleasure and enabling concentration on strategy and tactics rather than just fighting the boat. The Race1 boat preparation and support was excellent." Andy Meiklejohn: "I have sailed all over the world in many different sizes and concepts of boats and found the racing offered in the Race1 Ker 11.3 fleet to be immensely close and great fun. The boats are easy to sail but still with enough tricks to keep you working the whole way round the track."