Come-from-behind IMA maxi victory for Leopard 3 in RORC Nelson’s Cup

Antigua saved the best for last with the trade winds edging into the high teens for the third and final day of racing for the IMA Maxi class at the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Nelson’s Cup held off Antigua’s English Harbour. 

Victory for Leopard 3 in the IMA maxi class - RORC Nelson's Cup Series © Tim Wright/Photoaction.com

Two final coastal races were held - the first 20 miles, the second 10 miles - the maxi fleet now very familiar with the coastal nature of the course and especially its start featuring a sheer cliff off its leeward end. On top of this cliff is the ancient 18th century Fort Charlotte from where the race committee led by Nigel Biggs was operating. 

The impressive maxi class during the RORC Nelson's Cup Series in Antigua © Tim Wright/RORC

In the first race Karel Komárek's V won the pin with Chris Flowers’ Galateia above her, while Joost Schuijff's Leopard 3 was one down from the top of the line. This translated into a first victory this week for the V team, just 19 seconds ahead of Leopard 3 under IRC corrected time and Balthasar third, bouncing back after her boom issues yesterday.

“The first race was great,” commented V’s Captain Jack Bouttell. “We had a really good start and we won the cliff end and then from there you're pretty good, because you can basically call water on the fleet. You just end up tacking out and then you're in a land-favoured beat, so you're always able to then be first to come back into the shore, so it's a pretty strong position. I think the rest of the race we just sailed cleanly. Leopard 3 came back into us quite a bit on the second beat, but we managed to stay ahead and then extended downwind, so we were pretty happy with that.” 

A fifth place for overall leader Wendy Schmidt’s Deep Blue in the first race compressed the results, and just one point separating her from Leopard 3 and V going into the final race. 

Karel Komárek's V © Tim Wright/RORC

Galateia and Leopard 3 © Tim Wright/RORC

Prior to the start of the second race there was concern that a rain squall might pass over the fleet bringing the same havoc, big wind shifts and torrential rain, as several had caused during on Tuesday. In fact the squall line passed south of the race area leaving the race course unmolested with the wind even building to 18-19 knots.

In the second race it was Galateia that won the pin with Leopard 3 above her and V between, but behind. Leopard 3’s tactician Chris Nicholson explained: “In the pre-start, we were trying to own the left-hand end, but so was V - they were really strong on it, trying to come in last. It actually got to the point where it was too much. Galateia had it nice - they were ripping in on starboard. So we just quickly changed plan, hitched up on the windward side and timed it nicely. They called ‘water’ and we just simu-tacked with them, and were able to slowly grind our way out from under them. So we were even out of the start. But it is pretty hectic when you've got this massive starting line, and three 100 footers tacking within three boat lengths of each other. It's really high-end racing for such big boats.”

Leopard 3 went on to win the race by more than two and a half minutes under IRC corrected time from Galateia, with Balthasar third. This was enough to hand Leopard 3 the RORC Nelson’s Cup IMA Maxi prize by two points ahead from Deep Blue with Galateia third. 

Leopard 3 © Tim Wright/RORC

Leopard 3 win the IMA maxi series at the RORC Nelson's Cup © Tim Wright/RORC

It was very tight going into that last race,” commented a delighted Leopard 3 owner Joost Schuijff. “When we realised that, I said to the crew ‘we've done this before - winning a last race’, and not making any mistakes, with all the training paying off, etc. As a team we are very strong and the boat is very good. We're still in our programme of improving different things and we're getting better and better. We're constantly close with the other 100s now.” 

His wife Laura Schuijff added: “We’re seeing the young guys really coming up, really owning it and making a difference. We’ve got really good young sailors, including an Antiguan on board, who’s doing really well.” 

Chris Nicholson concluded: “Today we had our best day of the event with a 2-1. The first race was pretty difficult, super tight, - we've had so many races here where it feels like most of the time there's only a boat length in it. When you look at the video it looks a bit more tame, but it certainly doesn't feel that way on board. We've had some close crosses. And we're still trying to find our feet with Galateia and V - they push harder than us in the manoeuvres and how close they go, as I guess they've just done more of it, so we're still a bit weak in that department.”

The prizegiving for the IMA Maxi class, backed by the IMA and the RORC, was held at the historic Admiral’s Inn in Nelson’s Dockyard, in Antigua’s English Harbour. Leopard 3 picked up the top prize and it was wonderful to see that with Wendy Schmidt and Lizz Flowers picking up the prizes for second and third, two thirds of the podium had female skippers.  

Racing continues tomorrow with the Antigua 360 race around Antigua followed by the start of the RORC Caribbean 600 on Monday 23 February.

Final series results for the maxi class here: https://sailracehq.com/regatta-results/338e133f-171e-4d29-b64e-93c01756ac9f?year=&divisionId=a91d24e6-d62b-494a-b546-5e183e2d7617&t=1