Royal North Sea Yacht Club Ascension Day Regatta
by Karen Cox 12 May 10:43 BST
9-11 May 2024
On Thursday 9th May thirty-one yachts from the Royal North Sea Yacht Club raced from Ostend to Ramsgate for the annual Ascension Day Regatta.
It was a glorious day with perfect sailing winds in either side of the Channel, however in the middle of the Channel the wind was predicted to die.The decision was taken by the Race Officer to finish the race on the Ostend side to avoid any issues of lack of wind whilst crossing the shipping lane in the middle of the Channel.
Able then to put on their engines all 31 yachts continued onto Ramsgate for a fun packed evening at the host club, Royal Temple Yacht Club.
The winners of the Ostend to Ramsgate race were:
Cruiser class 1-4
Rebel a First 31.7 owned by Steven Govaerts with a time of 10:47:42. Followed by Tapatai, a J109 owned by Arne de Bruycker with a time of 11:20:00 Then Blue One Racing, a First 36.7 owned by Timo Hallantie with a time of 12:15:00
Cruiser class 5-6
Winner Serge Maes, a Sunfast 32GTE owned by Serge Maes with a time of 11:46:42 Liberty, a Bavaria Cruiser 32 owned by Koen de Poorter with a time of 12:57:00
IRC1
Pinta, Rodman 42 owned by Dirk Hellemans with a time of 7:47:00 Moana, a Beneteau First 47 owned by Francois Goubau with a time of 7:56:00 Snelle Vliet, a Grand Soleil 43 owned by Emiel van Hemeldonck with a time of 08:07:02
IRC 2-3
Farthur Bruin a Half Ton One off owned by Jan-Jakob Muyls with a time of 10:19:01 Soulmate, a Salona 38 owned by Frank Vancanneyt with a time of 09:44:34 Sailing Team Njord an A35 owned by Paul Jonckheere with a time of 10:03:31
On Friday there was a short race put on by the Royal Temple Yacht Club in which ten yachts participated. This was won by Ragazza, followed by Snelle Vliet and then yacht Just Fine.
A pontoon party was held followed by Prize Giving at the Yacht Club where the prizes were handed out by organiser Dirk Sledsens and the Commodore of the RTYC Karen Cox, supported by Commodore of the RNSYC Jan Gabriel and RCS of RTYC Andrew Ketteringham.
On a misty Saturday morning at 07:00 the fleet set off for their race back home to Ostend.
Commodore of the Royal Temple Yacht Club Karen Cox said, "It's always great fun to host the Euroregatta and the atmosphere in the Club was buzzing. We look forward to seeing some of them back for our annual regatta Ramsgate Week in August and already have them in our diary for 2025."