East Coast Race            West Mersea – Ramsgate

Fifteen boats enjoyed a good over night race in the Royal Ocean racing Club’s 2004 East Coast Race from West Mersea to Ramsgate.

The race started near the Nass Beacon and the fleet raced round Medusa, Sunk light, South Galloper, Kentish Knock, Falls Head and Elbow before finishing off North Quern at Ramsgate.

The breeze was southerly and held all night peaking at 15 knots and the zig-zag course meant that the fleet used asymmetric as well as downwind spinnakers as well as sailing upwind legs.    

The overall winner was the Humphreys 11m INN SPIRIT sailed by Alan Bartlett; winning the John Catt Salver for Best Corrected Time Overall, the WSV Breskens trophy for IRC 2, the RORC medallion for 1 ^st in combined IRC 1&2 and the Seahorse medallion.

Paul Wood sailing his IMX 40 GIRONDE won the Backwater Trophy for IRC 1, the Ailish Trophy for the 1 ^st Boat home and the RORC medallion for 2 ^nd in IRC 1&2 combined

Peter Clements sailing CARRONADE was third in IRC 1&2 combined.

Simon Holland Brown sailing the J35C SKY HUNTER won the Hugh Ellis Cup for IRC 3 and the RORC medallion for 1 ^st in IRC 3.

Tony & Chuffy Merewether sailing AMAZON won the RORC medallion for 2 ^nd IRC3.    

The Royal Temple Yacht Club was delighted that to finish a RORC race at their club and the competitors enjoyed the prizegiving; the bar was full and the winners were popular each receiving loud cheers and applause.

EAORA Week follows on from the East Coast Race. The fleet will race to Boulogne on Sunday and will race to various ports in France Belgium and the Netherlands .