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The north easterly breeze wicked up to 20 knots at times, but was once again variable in speed, giving a complexity to the one-design and IRC-rated action. Three races were held for all classes on the final day, completing the six-race series. Congratulations to the five class winners at the RORC Vice Admiral’s Cup: Cape 31 – Shotgunn, J/111 – McFly, J/109 – JAGO, HP30 – Assassin, and Quarter Tonner – BLT.
Cape 31 Class
The Cape 31 fleet at the RORC Vice Admiral’s Cup is the largest assembly in the short history of the class. 25 Cape 31s duked it out for six electric races, with nine teams making race-podium finishes in the regatta. The glitterati of the sailing world was sprinkled through the Cape 31 fleet. Olympic medallists, Volvo Ocean Race winners and one-design world champions racing with owner drivers.
The winner of the Cape 31 Class was Michael Wilson’s Shotgunn by four points from Nick Phillips’ Poole team on Chaotic. James Howells Cowes based team racing Gelert was third having scored an impressive three bullets out of six races completed. Anthony O’Leary’s Royal Cork team was the top corinthian Cape 31. RORC member Anthony O’Leary shared the driving with son Robert with Nicholas O’Leary on Main Sheet.
Isle of Man sailor Michael Wilson has an extraordinary crew racing Shotgunn, Ben Batchelor, Mike Wilson, Stu Bithell, Dave Chapman, Phil Hardisty, Simon Potts, and Peter Greenhalgh. Such was the level of competition, Shotgunn did not win a single race, but after discard, their lowest score was fourth. Michael Wilson comes from a dinghy racing background including Flying Fifteens, 505s and National 18s.
“Busy, frenetic, and intense,” summarised Shotgunn’s Michael Wilson. “Winning was about putting a series together, being conservative, rather than trying to win every race. Thank you to RORC for putting the weekend on and providing the lovely weather! This is my first regatta helming Shotgunn, and it is part of an addiction to boats! I saw the Cape 31s when they were first launched in Cape Town, and as soon as they came to the UK, I said I have got to have one of those. In my opinion the Cape 31 a really nice boat to transition dinghy sailors into keelboats.”
The Cape 31 Class are expected to return to RORC Racing at the IRC National Championships starting on the 23rd June. American Cape 31 Flying Jenny, with Sandra Askew on the helm, is the first Cape 31 entry with many more expected to be racing under IRC with RORC.
https://sailracehq.com/results/event...279e73ae2/2023
https://www.rorc.org/winners-announc...e-admirals-cup
