The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season's Points Championship consists of a testing series of races that attracts an international and varied fleet. For the serious offshore sailor, trying to win the Season's Points Championship is a real challenge. The Season's Points Championship this year included the tactically and physically challenging Rolex Fastnet Race, the oldest and most prestigious offshore yacht race in the world. Pending the outcome of the race was the IRC Overall Season Points Championship for Niall Dowling and crew on the J/111 ARABELLA as well as the top place in IRC 2 for Neil Kipling's J/122, JOOPSTER.
At the end of it all, one could call this race "the foggy bottom version". After a wet and windy season the weather gods conjured up a new and unusual challenge for the finale of the RORC 2011 season: light airs and thick fog. Speaking after the race, RORC Vice Commodore, Mike Greville said that it was a good and challenging tactical race. "The combination of thick fog and light patchy breeze made it really difficult to sail to the wind. The instruments were not a lot of help because of the wind sheer and we struggled to see the tell tales in the thick fog in the dark. The secret of success appeared for many was to go west. There was more breeze and at a better angle particularly as boats closed the finish at Cherbourg."
The fog also caused the race committee problems at the start and the RIB at the outer distance mark was invaluable in checking for OCS boats. The wind was westerly force 3 and the fleet were just able to carry their kites. Exiting the Solent to the East there were large holes in the wind to spot and avoid off Bembridge.
The light wind prevailed throughout the race. The outcomes of the race had a meaningful impact on the overall standings with J sailing teams well represented in the top five in each class, by far the best performance of any sailing brand in European waters. For IRC Overall, Niall Dowling's J/111 ARABELLA finished second overall, a remarkably good showing considering the range of conditions they faced over the course of the season, none of which ever permitted ARABELLA to kick up her heels and take-off. In IRC Two, the J/111 ARABELLA was fifth.
For more RORC Cherbourg Race Sailing information
