Displaying items by tag: Quarter Tonner

13th May 2024

West Cork Quarter Tonner Manzanita is Schull Harbour Sailing Club First Race Winner of 2024

The opening race of the 2024 summer sailing season at Schull Harbour Sailing Club in West Cork was staged on Saturday in near-idyllic weather as the mixed cruiser fleet competed for the Rossbrin Boatyard Trophy.

After starting in the inner harbour in a light easterly breeze, the course took the competitors around the Calf Islands and Amelia Buoy.

Peter Duggan's Quarter Tonner Manzanita (IRL 2076) and Tom Newman's Contessa 32, Sittelle (IRL 2323)

Gabby Hogan's Growler led the fleet to take line honours but had to settle for second place in both IRC and Echo, from Peter Duggan's Manzanita, who showed the benefit of a major winter overhaul by winning both divisions.

Michael Moody's 30 Shelly D (IRL148) at the Perch mark during Schull Harbour Sailing Club Racing

The Murphy family sailing the veteran Shelly D for the 45th consecutive year finished third in both IRC and Echo.

Winning Manzanita skipper Peter Duggan with crew Daniel Duggan and John Molloy (a former owner of Manzanita) at the Schull Harbour Sailing Club prizegiving for the Rossbrin Boatyard Trophy

Published in West Cork

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6th March 2024

'Purple Haze' Arrives on Strangford Lough: Vintage Quarter Tonner Will Contest 2024 ICRA Nationals and IRC Europeans on Dublin Bay

The Ker 32 Hijacker was a popular competitor owned by Stuart Cranston of Strangford Lough YC at Whiterock and the nearby Down Cruising club, but he was struggling to get enough regular crew (eight) so downsizing was the answer, and he will move Hijacker on. The replacement boat is the well-known David Thomas designed Quarter Tonner, Purple Haze.

Stuart says she is a more manageable boat. He bought her from Phil Cook last summer in Cardiff, where she has been raced for years. Phil had bought Dave Cullen’s Half Tonner Checkmate so decided to move Purple Haze on to a new home.

The vintage Quarter Tonner Purple Haze racing on Strangford Lough Photo: courtesy Stuart Cranston

Stuart says “We had her towed home back to Strangford Lough. We only require five to sail her competitively which is great... We raced her over the 2023 season and have totally fallen in love with her and found her still to be very quick with her original somewhat tired sails”.

She was built in 1977 as the prototype for the Bolero Quarter Ton and designed by the late David Thomas who was behind some of the great designs that are still prominent today such as the Sigma 33, Impala and Sonata. She is a past winner of the Quarter Ton Cup, The Round the Island Race Gold Roman Bowl, and the Conquers de Elegance QT Cup.

At the end of last year, Purple Haze was towed to the Medina Yard in Cowes for some John Corby love. He swiftly got stuck in a shed with his team, stripping her back to the bare timber structure.

Purple Haze under restoration Photo: courtesy Stuart Cranston

Purple Haze in her fully restored state Photo: courtesy Stuart Cranston

New North Sails are on order from Maurice ‘Prof’ McConnell for the 2024 season, and John Corby has spent five months over the Winter bringing her back to her former glory. The deck has been glass sheathed and stiffened, new fittings, winches and deck gear installed, along with some new systems to improve sail trim and boat handling. She’s then been given a full respray on the deck as well as eight coats of clear coat sprayed on the topsides to bring back a gorgeous shine to beautiful exposed wood.

It's going to be a busy season for Stuart and his crew. The plan is to head back to Cowes in June for the Quarter Ton Cup 20th Anniversary (25th -27th June). Then to Dublin Bay for the ICRA National Championships at the end of August at the Royal Irish in Dun Laoghaire and the IRC Europeans at the same venue from 12th – 15th September.

Published in Quarter Ton

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24th June 2023

Phelan's Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge Win IRC Three at Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale

Conor Phelan's Royal Cork Yacht Club Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge has won Class Three IRC at The Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale.

As Afloat reported earlier, Quarter Tonners had a grip on the ten-boat fleet since Wednesday's first race.

Phelan led all the way and ended the regatta with five wins, taking two guns on the final day and discarding a second place.

Another Quarter Tonner, Courtown Sailing Club's Joubert Quarter Tonner, Snoopy (Joanne Hall & Martin Mahon), leapfrogged visiting Welsh Sigma 33 'Partisan' into second overall on Thursday, and that's how things stayed despite two more races on Saturday in some light winds and drizzle.

The 15th edition of the biennial regatta attracted 90 entries across all divisions and ran from 21st to 24th June and incorporated the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.

Results below.

Read all Afloat's 2023 Sovereign's Cup Regatta coverage in one handy link here

Published in Sovereign's Cup

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22nd June 2023

Quarter Tonners Are Top of IRC Three at Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale

Quarter Tonners have control of the top of Class Three IRC at The Simply Blue Sovereign's Cup off Kinsale.

Royal Cork Yacht Club Quarter Tonner Anchor Challenge continues to lead the ten-boat fleet after four races sailed, but another Quarter Tonner has leapfrogged visiting Welsh Sigma 33 'Partisan' into second overall. Courtown Sailing Club's Joubert Quarter Tonner, Snoopy (Joanne Hall & Martin Mahon), is eight points behind Conor Phelan's leading Farr design.

Phelan's Farr design has an impressive scorecard of 1.0, 2.0, 1.0, and 1.0 over the four round-the-can courses so far in the ten-boat fleet.

Regular Afloat readers will recall Snoopy's 2021 performance. With a statement of her intent delivered at Calves Week in West Cork in August 2021, 'Snoopy' became the ICRA Divison 3 National Champion at the first attempt that September after a superbly sailed series on Dublin Bay.

This is the 15th edition of the biennial regatta, which has attracted 90 entries across all divisions, runs from 21st to 24th June, and incorporates the 1720 European sportsboat Championships.

Southwesterly winds gusting to 30 knots are forecast for Friday's races, with KYC organisers telling competitors tonight: "Due to the current forecast for tomorrow, please keep an eye out for an amendment to the SI’s in the morning as to the location of each start area".

Results below.

Published in Sovereign's Cup

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21st August 2022

Dublin Bay-based Quarter Tonner 'Cartoon' is For Sale

The distinctive black hulled Dublin Bay-based Quarter Tonner Cartoon is for sale.

Priced at €15,000, the 1986 vintage Fauroux design is described as one of the fastest quarter tonners, especially in light airs.

Built in Antibes using divinycell core technology rather than balsa core. Fauroux's designs are consistently seen at the top of the UK Quarter Ton Fleet.

The boat was optimised for IRC in 2015 by removing the original IOR rig.

Optimisation included a new Selden mast, boom, standing rigging, running rigging, Jeffa rudder tube, composite rudder and carbon tiller.

The boat has continuously dry sailed since 2013 and sails from the Royal Irish Yacht Club, and comes complete with a road trailer.

Read the full advert on Afloat here

Published in Boat Sales

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Quarter Tonner

15th July 2022

Laidlaw's Quarter Tonner BLT is IRC Three Cork Week Champion

21 teams enjoyed nine races on windward-leeward and round the cans courses at Cork Week.

Sam Laidlaw’s Quarter Tonner BLT from the Royal Yacht Squadron Cowes scored seven race wins out of ten to rocket to the class title.

Marcus Ryan’s youth team racing J/24 HeadCase is runner-up just five points ahead of Fiona Young’s Royal Cork Albin Express North Star.

Marcus Ryan’s Irish youth team racing J/24 HeadCase Photo: Bob Bateman

Published in Cork Week

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14th July 2022

12 Point Cork Week Lead for Laidlaw's Quarter Tonner in IRC Three

Sam Laidlaw’s Quarter Tonner BLT from the Royal Yacht Squadron made it six straight bullets in the first race on Thursday at Cork Week but came fifth in the second, proving that the team from Cowes is human!

BLT was back on track for the last race taking a seventh win and all but securing the class title. Marcus Ryan’s Irish youth team racing J/24 HeadCase moved up to second place having scored two podium race results today.

After three days of light and complex racing, a sea breeze kicked in on Day Four to spice up the action on the penultimate day

Marcus Ryan’s Irish youth team racing J/24 HeadCase Photo: Bob Bateman

Dorgan, Marshall & Losty’s Quarter Tonner Illegal from Cove Sailing Club, slips to third just two points behind HeadCase.

Quarter Tonner Illegal from Cove Sailing Club Photo: Bob Bateman

A number of protests are still to be heard so results are provisional.

Published in Cork Week

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13th July 2022

Quarter Tonner BLT Earns Fifth Race Win in a Row at Cork Week IRC Three

Sam Laidlaw’s Quarter Tonner BLT from the Royal Yacht Squadron won their fifth race in a row and have a big lead in IRC Three on Wednesday, day three of Cork Week Regatta.

Dorgan, Marshall & Losty’s Quarter Tonner Illegal from Cove Sailing Club was once again second and is five points behind BLT with two days of racing to go.

The third day of Cork Week incorporating the ICRA National Championships was blessed with sunshine and 8-10 knots of breeze from the north.

Quarter Tonner Illegal from Cove Sailing Club Photo: Bob Bateman

Marcus Ryan’s Irish youth team racing J/24 HeadCase put in another great race to finish third, just a point behind Illegal.

Racing at Cork Week continues tomorrow with the penultimate day of racing for the regatta. Five race areas, in and outside Cork Harbour, will be organised by the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Cork Week's Class 3 IRC competitor Panic (David O'Regan) from the Royal Cork YC Photo: Bob Bateman

Published in Cork Week

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Quarter Tonner

12th July 2022

Laidlaw’s Quarter Tonner BLT Has Perfect Scoreline in Cork Week IRC Three

There is no stopping Sam Laidlaw’s Quarter Tonner BLT from the Royal Yacht Squadron, who kept their perfect scoreline on day two of Cork Week with an emphatic win in Race Three of the series to lead the class by four points.

Dorgan, Marshall & Losty’s Quarter Tonner Illegal from Cove Sailing Club was runner-up in today’s race to move up to second for the regatta.

Fiona Young’s North Star from the Royal Cork YC scored a podium race finish today, moving up to fourth for the series.

Marcus Ryan’s Irish youth team racing J/24 HeadCase was fourth today and is now third for the series, but only on countback.

BLT on her mooring in Crosshaven reveals the Jacques Fauroux-designed Bullit hull. The boat is a previous winner of the 1980 Quarter Ton Cup in New Zealand. In all just seven Bullits were built, three of which won consecutive Quarter Ton Cups in 1978, 1980 and 1981, and they have become increasingly sought-after. Photo: Bob Bateman

Published in Cork Week

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11th July 2022

Royal Yacht Squadron Quarter Tonner BLT is First in Cork Week IRC Three

Sam Laidlaw’s Quarter Tonner BLT from the Royal Yacht Squadron dominated IRC Three of Volvo Cork Week Regatta today, scoring three straight bullets.

Marcus Ryan’s Irish youth team racing J/24 HeadCase (that won overall in the UK at the weekend) scored three podium race results to end the day in second place in the 22 boat class.

Dorgan, Marshall & Losty’s Quarter Tonner Illegal from Cove Sailing Club finished Day One in third.

“We haven’t sailed Cork Week since we did it on Farr 52 Bob 12 years ago,” commented BLT’s helm Sam Laidlaw. “We have come back because it’s such a great place and with 300 years of history, everybody should be here. Today was a bit light for us, we would prefer more wind, but we will see.”

Class 3 IRC Class after three sailed

1st BLT Fauroux Quarter Ton Sam Laidlaw FRA 8051 Royal Yacht Squadron
2nd HeadCase J24 Marcus Ryan 4247 HYC/MSC/LRYC/BYC
3rd Illegal Quater Ton Farr Dorgan/Marshall/Losty IRL1751

Results here

Published in Cork Week

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About The Middle Sea Race

The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highly rated offshore classic, often mentioned in the same breath as the Rolex Fastnet, The Rolex Sydney–Hobart and Newport-Bermuda as a 'must do' race. The Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club co-founded the race in 1968 and 2007 was the 28th Edition. Save for a break between 1984 and 1995 the event has been run annually attracting 25–30 yachts. In recent years, the number of entries has rissen sharply to 68 boats thanks to a new Organising Committee who managed to bring Rolex on board as title sponsor for the Middle Sea Race.

The race is a true challenge to skippers and crews who have to be at their very best to cope with the often changeable and demanding conditions. Equally, the race is blessed with unsurpassed scenery with its course, taking competitors close to a number of islands, which form marks of the course. Ted Turner described the MSR as "the most beautiful race course in the world".

Apart from Turner, famous competitors have included Eric Tabarly, Cino Ricci, Herbert von Karajan, Jim Dolan, Sir Chay Blyth and Sir Francis Chichester (fresh from his round the world adventure). High profile boats from the world's top designers take part, most in pursuit of line honours and the record – competing yachts include the extreme Open 60s, Riviera di Rimini and Shining; the maxis, Mistress Quickly, Zephyrus IV and Sagamore; and the pocket rockets such as the 41-foot J-125 Strait Dealer and the DK46, Fidessa Fastwave.

In 2006, Mike Sanderson and Seb Josse on board ABN Amro, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the super Maxis; Alfa Romeo and Maximus and the 2006 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall winner, Hasso Platner on board his MaxZ86, Morning Glory.

George David on board Rambler (ex-Alfa Romeo) managed a new course record in 2007 and in 2008, Thierry Bouchard on Spirit of Ad Hoc won the Rolex Middle Sea Race on board a Beneteau 40.7

The largest number of entries was 78 established in 2008.

Middle Sea Race History

IN THE BEGINNING

The Middle Sea Race was conceived as the result of sporting rivalry between great friends, Paul and John Ripard and an Englishman residing in Malta called Jimmy White, all members of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. In the early fifties, it was mainly British servicemen stationed in Malta who competitively raced. Even the boats had a military connection, since they were old German training boats captured by the British during the war. At the time, the RMYC only had a few Maltese members, amongst who were Paul and John Ripard.

So it was in the early sixties that Paul and Jimmy, together with a mutual friend, Alan Green (later to become the Race Director of the Royal Ocean Racing Club), set out to map a course designed to offer an exciting race in different conditions to those prevailing in Maltese coastal waters. They also decided the course would be slightly longer than the RORC's longest race, the Fastnet. The resulting course is the same as used today.

Ted Turner, CEO of Turner Communications (CNN) has written that the Middle Sea Race "must be the most beautiful race course in the world. What other event has an active volcano as a mark of the course?"

In all of its editions since it was first run in 1968 – won by Paul Ripard's brother John, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted many prestigious names in yachting. Some of these have gone on to greater things in life and have actually left their imprint on the world at large. Amongst these one finds the late Raul Gardini who won line honours in 1979 on Rumegal, and who spearheaded the 1992 Italian Challenge for the America's Cup with Moro di Venezia.

Another former line honours winner (1971) who has passed away since was Frenchman Eric Tabarly winner of round the world and transatlantic races on Penduik. Before his death, he was in Malta again for the novel Around Europe Open UAP Race involving monohulls, catamarans and trimarans. The guest list for the Middle Sea Race has included VIP's of the likes of Sir Francis Chichester, who in 1966 was the first man to sail around the world single-handedly, making only one stop.

The list of top yachting names includes many Italians. It is, after all a premier race around their largest island. These include Navy Admiral Tino Straulino, Olympic gold medallist in the star class and Cino Ricci, well known yachting TV commentator. And it is also an Italian who in 1999 finally beat the course record set by Mistress Quickly in 1978. Top racing skipper Andrea Scarabelli beat it so resoundingly, he knocked off over six hours from the time that had stood unbeaten for 20 years.

World famous round the world race winners with a Middle Sea Race connection include yachting journalist Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Les Williams, both from the UK.

The Maxi Class has long had a long and loving relationship with the Middle Sea Race. Right from the early days personalities such as Germany's Herbert Von Karajan, famous orchestra conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philarmoniker, competing with his maxi Helisara IV. Later came Marvin Greene Jr, CEO of Reeves Communications Corporation and owner of the well known Nirvana (line honours in 1982) and Jim Dolan, CEO of Cablevision, whose Sagamore was back in 1999 to try and emulate the line honours she won in 1997.

THE COURSE RECORD

The course record was held by the San Francisco based, Robert McNeil on board his Maxi Turbo Sled Zephyrus IV when in 2000, he smashed the Course record which now stands at 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs. Zephyrus IV is a Rechiel-Pugh design. In recent years, various maxis such as Alfa Romeo, Nokia, Maximus and Morning Glory have all tried to break this course record, but the wind Gods have never played along. Even the VOR winner, ABN AMro tried, but all failed in 2006.

However, George David came along on board Rambler in 2007 and demolished the course record established by Zephyrus IV in 2000. This now stands at 1 day, 23 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds.

At A Glance - Middle Sea Race 2024

First held: 1968

Organising Authority: Royal Malta Yacht Club

Start

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 19 October 2024.

Grand Harbour, Valletta: seven separate starts, at 10-minute intervals, from 11:00 CEST Saturday, 21 October 2024

Start Line: between the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens (Valletta) and Fort St Angelo (Birgu)

Various vantage points all around the Grand Harbour, high up on the bastions or at water level. Harbour access for spectator boats is restricted during the period of the start.

Course

Set in the heart of the Mediterranean and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. It starts and finishes in Malta, passes two active volcanoes and takes in the deep azure waters surrounding Sicily, and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands, as well as lonelier outposts of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, both closer to the African continent than Europe.

Length: 606 nautical miles (1,122km)

Outright Race Record: 33h 29m 28s, Argo, United States, Jason Carroll

Monohull Race Record: 40h 17m 50s, Comanche, Cayman Is, Mitch Booth