Coutts Quarter Ton Cup, June 2012

Solent, England
What an event!  Thirty boats closely rated with only seven qualifying for the Corinthian (amateur) trophy.  The racing was exceptionally close making this probably the premier event in the Solent at the moment.  

There were nine races over three days on predominantly windward/leeward courses.  Race times were about 50 minutes and with the racing so close, turn round times were just a few minutes. The course was set on the Hill Plateau and on the Bramble Bank in tricky light wind conditions.  We had to work hard to get the runs to be true in what appeared to be stronger than predicted tide.  The spreader mark was essential with so many boats rounding the top mark at the same time.  With the tide running in the 'wrong' direction in the first race the downwind mark was left single, rather than a gate, left to port and a return to the ODM functioned as a tidal correction leg at the bottom of the course.

Rum Jungle was out for the first two days entertaining guests of Coutts Bank, the event sponsor.  They were treated to a real feast of the best and closest racing Rob and his team have witnessed this year so far.

Louise Morton said on the Quarter Ton Class website:

Wow, that was a good regatta.  Excellent race management from Rob Lamb, Mike Garvey and the team.  I didn't hear any grumbles from anyone about that.  They had tricky conditions and surprisingly strong tides to contend with and did a good job communicating with the boats with some funny moments with their Welsh mark layer and, in a separate incident on the last day, with a fellow race officer who tried to encroach on our bit of the race course.

Fiona Brown, PR Officer for the Quarter Ton Class: 

… the racing is fabulous to watch.  It is as close in the QT fleet as anything I watch at the Melges 24, Dragon and Etchells World Championships'.

SolentXtra was represented by Robert Lamb as Race Officer, Mike GarveyTina Scott, Martin Stephens (the Welsh mark layer) and Jo Lucas. 

Click here to go to the event microsite and here for the Quarter Ton Class Blog with links to the event photographs.


© SolentXtra 2012