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Calypso & Madeleine win RTYC Southern Championships

Saturday 3 October 2020 J70 Southern Area Championship Royal Thames YC Cowes Photo: Rick Tomlinson

3-4 October J/70 Southern Area Championship

Round Three of the J/70 UK Class Grand Slam Series was organised by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, featuring 14 teams racing for the Southern Championships. A biblical weather forecast put the event in jeopardy. However, the RTYC Race Team were roundly applauded by the competitors for delivering four short sharp races on the first day. Sadly, with conditions forecast for 25 knots and over, racing was not possible on Sunday.

“After the wind finally filled, we were able to compete four short races in light SSW winds,” commented RTYC PRO Jenn Lancaster. “Knowing the weather was looking doubtful for Sunday’s racing we were trying to make the most of Saturday, so the races were about 30 minutes long for the top boat. The competitors were wonderfully supportive, and it is was a pleasure to run the regatta.”

Results

J/70 Calypso – Saturday 3 October 2020 J70 Southern Area Championship Royal Thames YC Cowes Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Jonathan Calascione & James Peters, racing Calypso took the Open division win, just two points ahead of Simon Patterson’s Standfast. Graham Clapp’s Jeepster was third.

“The new Calypso is built on the foundations of the team that has been in the class for years and we have made a good start,” commented Jonathan Calascione. “The team has been racing here in the UK and also in Italy and that has compressed our learning curve. Time on the water has accelerated our development. There is a lot more to come but this weekend, we proved to ourselves that we can win regattas. Well done to the race team for keeping us informed quickly about changes to the race programme, and ultimately providing great racing in a crowded Solent.”

J/70 Madeleine – Saturday 3 October 2020 J70 Southern Area Championship Royal Thames YC Cowes Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Duncan McCarthy’s J/70 Madeleine scored two podium finishes in the full fleet to win the Corinthian title. Charles Thompson’s Brutus was second and Tim Collins EV Experts third.

“That was our first-time racing in a J/70!” commented Duncan McCarthy.  “The team all come from Parkstone Yacht Club, where we race in a J/24. We decided to charter a J/70 for the regatta and the racing was very good indeed. The standard was high and there was plenty of boat-on-boat action. When we were packing the boat up, we were all still buzzing, so we would love to come back and race in the class.”

Round 4 of the J/70 UK Class Grand Slam Series is scheduled for 10-11 October as part of the Hamble One Design Championships, organised by the Hamble River SC.