2021 Grand Finale - Land Union September Regatta
by Louay Habib 16 Sep 2021 20:48 BST
17-19 September 2021
Hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, the Land Union September Regatta is the final regatta for the 2021 RSrnYC Summer Series and will incorporate the HP30 National Championship. Over 80 boats are expected, racing on two separate courses in the Solent. Racing for the HP30 Nationals starts on Friday 17th September.
The Land Union September Regatta, for the entire fleet, will run from Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th September. Results will decide the class winners and the overall champion for the Royal Southern Summer Series.
Black Group
Well over 50 teams will be racing in Black Group, including three IRC Classes, the Cape 31 Class, the HP30 Class and the Club Class. Teams will have up to three races per day on windward-leeward and round-the-cans courses.
In IRC One, Cornel Riklin's J/111 Jitterbug (RTYC, RLymYC) leads the series by a narrow margin from Louise Makin & Chris Jones' J/111 JourneyMaker II (RSrnYC). Several more teams are still very much in contention, including the overall winner of the 2019 Royal Southern Summer Series, Blair & Beckett's King 40 Cobra (RTYC) and Rob Bottomley's Mills 41 Sailplane 3 (RSrnYC).
The HP30 National Champion will be decided at the regatta with ten pocket-rockets in action from Friday to Sunday. For the Royal Southern Summer Series, Glyn Locke's Farr 280 Toucan (RTYC) is in pole position for the series and was the winner of the Land Union Regatta last year. Jonathan Powell's Farr 280 Peggy (Warsash SC) is second for the series, narrowly ahead of Jamie Rankin's Farr 280 Pandemonium (RORC).
The Cape 31 UK Class has seen a meteoric rise this season with most of the fleet based in Hamble. Seven Cape 31s are entered for the Land Union September Regatta. Russell Peters' Squirt (RYS) leads the one-design class. Lance Adams' Katabatic (ISC) is second for the series, and Tor McLaren's Gallivanter III (RYS) is third.
In IRC Two, Team Knight Build's J/112E Happy Daize (RORC) is the outright leader for the season, having scored ten podium finishes so far. However, a pack of boats are in the hunt for the class podium, including Gordon Craigen's J/105 Jacana (RSrnYC), Dirk & Dianne van Beek J/88 Sabriel Jr (RSrnYC) and Mike Bridges' JPK 1010 Elaine Again.
In IRC Three, Ian Handley & Tim James' Mustang 30 Banter (RSrnYC) is the outright class leader for the series, having scored eleven race podiums so far. Contenders for the class podium for the season include Olly & Sam Love's SJ320 Frank3 (RSrnYC), Becky Walford's J/92 Brenda's J (Hornet Services SC), and David Greenhalgh's J/92 J'ronimo (RSrnYC).
Enjoying a specially designed course for the Club Class, Claire Dresser's Sigma 362 Lady Penrose will be hoping to take a podium finish for the season. Past Royal Southern YC Commodore Graham Nixon will be racing his Elan 40 Magic and was the class winner in 2020. Teresa Whelan's X342 Xarifa (Royal London YC) will also be racing.
White Group
Up to ten races are scheduled for the 17-strong J/70 Class. The adrenalin-packed action will be short sharp windward leeward races. The Land Union September Regatta is the final round of the J/70 UK Class Sprint Series.
Seven XOD one-designs will be racing, the historic class dates back over 100 years and the XOD fleet have been growing in numbers for the series. Peter Baines' Felix (HRSC) leads the series. Andy Hamlett's Satu (RSrnYC) is in second place. Gary Rossall's Little X (RSrnYC) is currently third for the series and will be defending their win in last year's regatta.
Land Union will be bringing the full flavour of Oktoberfest to the regatta. Saturday evening's entertainment will be complimentary beer, frankfurters, and pretzels. The al fresco Den's Deck will be dressed-up for the occasion and an Oompah Band and DJ will add to the fun. All of the teams racing will enjoy the superb facilities of the Royal Southern Clubhouse located on the Hamble River. Classes will be awarded Land Union Trophies at the prize-giving on Sunday.
For more information about the Royal Southern Yacht Club please visit www.royal-southern.co.uk.