RACE1 KER 11.3

"New Jason Ker design wins the coveted Queens Cup"
- Kate Laven. (Southern Daily Echo) August 6, 2001

STURDY breezes and a strong ebb tide set the scene for an exciting curtain raiser at 2001 Skandia Life Cowes Week and it was a new boy on the blocks that won the Queens Cup.

While Mike Slade's 90-foot Ocean Leopard was first home on Saturday after a taxing opening race, it was the new superfast Ker 11.3's that took top three spots on corrected time with Michael White's On a High, racing in Class 1 landing the coveted Cup.

The 11.3 was designed by Jason Ker, who graduated in yacht and powerboat design from Southampton Institute and worked at Vosper Thornycroft.

His first design, a 9.5m called Shakermaker was commissioned in 1995 and from the time it hit the water, the name of Ker has been one of the most exciting in yacht racing design on the south coast.

Portsmouth optician Robbie Cameron-Davies's I-Site, which was the 1000th entry registered at Skandia Life Cowes Week, came in second in Class 1 in her first competitive outing, while Fair Do's V came in third.

The biggest boats, competing in the Queens Cup, swept away off the Royal Yacht Squadron start line and churned through the Solent waters towards Yarmouth via the mainland shore at around 17 knots.

Wild Thing, the Australian maxi that was brought up to the Solent by Melbourne property magnate Grant Wharington was one of the first over the line.

At 83 foot, the maxi, which after being extensively modified last year came second in the 2001 Sydney to Hobart Race, is one of the biggest competitors at the regatta.

Her distinctive green and purple hull was one of the front runners in the first race as they approached the second mark at Yarmouth.

But the headsail came off its tracks and Wharington and his crew lost vital time as they completed a bare change before resuming.

Mike Slade's Skandia Life Leopard headed off for the Island shore on the start line and led the fleet virtually throughout.

She was first to hoist his spinnaker as they rounded the second mark followed by Johnny Caulcutt’s IACC boat High Voltage, who was making superb progress until it was time to put the kite up.

The sail came out of the bag twisted and around five minutes were lost as crew tried to unravel it, only to see the sail drop into the water.

He finished in 15th place on corrected time 11 minutes behind Skandia Life Leopard.

But he will have been pleased to have finished ahead of Australia II, the former America's Cup winner, who took to the water for the first time since being released from the Maritime Museum in Australia with several members of the original 1983 winning crew on board.

The Farr 40s, starting three days of dedicated class racing, were given a series of windward and leeward courses. American visitor James Richardson proved his pedigree in Barking Mad after taking all three races from Philip Tollhurst's Warlord VI, John Oswald's Game On and Mark Heeley's GBR25, with Olympic gold medalist Iain Percy helming, the winner of the Farr European Championships in the Solent earlier this summer.




		THE QUEENS CUP 2001. "New Jason Ker design wins the coveted Queens Cup" - Kate Laven. (Southern Daily Echo) August 6, 2001 STURDY breezes and a strong ebb tide set the scene for an exciting curtain raiser at 2001 Skandia Life Cowes Week and it was a new boy on the blocks that won the Queens Cup. While Mike Slade's 90-foot Ocean Leopard was first home on Saturday after a taxing opening race, it was the new superfast Ker 11.3's that took top three spots on corrected time with Michael White's On a High, racing in Class 1 landing the coveted Cup. The 11.3 was designed by Jason Ker, who graduated in yacht and powerboat design from Southampton Institute and worked at Vosper Thornycroft. His first design, a 9.5m called Shakermaker was commissioned in 1995 and from the time it hit the water, the name of Ker has been one of the most exciting in yacht racing design on the south coast. Portsmouth optician Robbie Cameron-Davies's I-Site, which was the 1000th entry registered at Skandia Life Cowes Week, came in second in Class 1 in her first competitive outing, while Fair Do's V came in third. The biggest boats, competing in the Queens Cup, swept away off the Royal Yacht Squadron start line and churned through the Solent waters towards Yarmouth via the mainland shore at around 17 knots. Wild Thing, the Australian maxi that was brought up to the Solent by Melbourne property magnate Grant Wharington was one of the first over the line. At 83 foot, the maxi, which after being extensively modified last year came second in the 2001 Sydney to Hobart Race, is one of the biggest competitors at the regatta. Her distinctive green and purple hull was one of the front runners in the first race as they approached the second mark at Yarmouth. But the headsail came off its tracks and Wharington and his crew lost vital time as they completed a bare change before resuming. Mike Slade's Skandia Life Leopard headed off for the Island shore on the start line and led the fleet virtually throughout. She was first to hoist his spinnaker as they rounded the second mark followed by Johnny Caulcutt’s IACC boat High Voltage, who was making superb progress until it was time to put the kite up. The sail came out of the bag twisted and around five minutes were lost as crew tried to unravel it, only to see the sail drop into the water. He finished in 15th place on corrected time 11 minutes behind Skandia Life Leopard. But he will have been pleased to have finished ahead of Australia II, the former America's Cup winner, who took to the water for the first time since being released from the Maritime Museum in Australia with several members of the original 1983 winning crew on board. The Farr 40s, starting three days of dedicated class racing, were given a series of windward and leeward courses. American visitor James Richardson proved his pedigree in Barking Mad after taking all three races from Philip Tollhurst's Warlord VI, John Oswald's Game On and Mark Heeley's GBR25, with Olympic gold medalist Iain Percy helming, the winner of the Farr European Championships in the Solent earlier this summer.