RORC’s Vice Admirals Cup (18-20 May) was the second event of the SB20 UK series 2018 and the Southern area championships. This mid Solent, 8 race, event over a windward leeward courses produced tight racing in the fleet which included one of the world’s leading SB20 teams, Xcellent, led by John Pollard. On paper it was his event to lose.

On the first day it was clear that there was going to be little wind unless a SW sea breeze were to develop. The excellent race management team, headed by Stuart Childerley held its nerve and eventually got 3 quickfire races run from 3:30pm, with enough wind on a couple of legs to be heated, so at 7:30 when the fleet made it back to the dock there were grins all round. The Hamble based boats adjourned to the King and Queen for beers, food and “if onlys”. After the first day Team Xcellent led with 1,1,3, two points ahead of Braking Bod with 3,2,1 who in turn were 4 points ahead of Whyaduck and Sharc (who between them have filled all the remaining top 4 race positions)

Day two brought another delayed start with one race completed before the sea breeze swung into action which gave very similar conditions to day one of tight tactical racing in challenging conditions. Team Xcellent swept all before her with three wins and was clearly boat of day so had pretty much wrapped up the series with a day to spare. Whyaduck had closed the gap to Breaking Bod by a point with Sharc dropping backing a tad as other boats such as Sail Navy, Carnage, and Reach Around broke into the top 4. Another feature of the day was the rare sight of our Chairman, Paul Hine, who guest steered 6A Vision whilst Peter, the normal helm, had to run a dance party for 20(ish) 9 year old girls.

The final day’s racing brought difficult conditions for the committee with the beat crossing a strong east going tide. This in turn led to fairly one way beats/runs, although the shifting wind in the middle of a 20 degree wind bend did leave room for snakes and ladders. The first race was led by Reach Around from start until the last couple of hundred yards when a poorly executed gybe allowed Breaking Bod to sneak her second win of the series. John Pollard completed the podium with Whyaduck finishing fourth. With these results the podium for the event was set. In the final race Xcellent tacked off the pin and was not troubled in the race again. Breaking Bod came in second following a close tussle with Sharc, who elected to go to the unfavoured leeward gate after the first lap which also let Reach Around into third, a position she did not relinquish.

So in the final reckoning Team Xcellent showed its class and won with 8 points, Breaking Bod were second (15 points) and Whyaduck third (25 points). Sharc (28 points) and Reach around (29 points) rounded off the top five.

The next event will be the UK nationals at the Royal Torbay YC on 14 June. If you would like to join us for this 4 day extravaganza and do not have a boat please let the class secretary know as there are boats available to charter and teams looking for crew. You will be guaranteed a warm welcome by both the club and the class.