The Cape 31 UK National Championships took place over the weekend at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, and with 21 boats on the start line, it was the biggest fleet yet and definitely the most action they’ve seen so far.
Four Irish boats travelled to Cowes, with Anthony O'Leary's Antix crew from Royal Cork finishing best in tenth overall (results below).
The regatta began with two races on Friday with the forecast building all day.
The RYS Race Committee got two great races away before the tide turned to be against the wind. 2021 National Champions Squirt set the tone, winning the first race, closely followed by Fanatic and Arabella. Tokoloshe won race two with Shotgunn and Gelert rounding off the podium. The breeze got up, and the tide turned during the second race, so racing was stopped to allow the teams to get back to Cowes safely. Tokoloshe and Squirt led the regatta after day one, both carrying a 1st and a 4th, with Fanatic closely behind them with a 2nd and 6th.
With 21 boats on the start line, it was the biggest Cape 31 fleet yet
Friday evening brought the Nationals Dinner at the Royal Yacht Squadron, a daily prize giving with drinks and canapés followed by a two-course dinner. All of the owners were treated to a gift from the class before they danced the night away with the Pinstripe Band.
There were multiple general recalls and black flags at the Cape 31 UK Nationals
The forecast for Saturday was a solid 16-20 knots all day. The fleet was straight out the blocks in Race 1, with Tokoloshe taking the win. Fanatic took the next two race wins between multiple general recalls and black flags.
Squirt won the last race of the day with Antix and Katabatic rounding off the podium after Fanatic blew up their spinnaker and Tokoloshe had an incident at the top mark. This put Tokoloshe and Fanatic on equal points going into the final day.
Johnny Cooper's Fanatic crew were crowned the 2022 Cape 31 UK National Champions at the Royal Yacht Squadron
The day was rounded off with a daily prize giving with some rosé on the lawn at the Squadron.
The Race Committee tried their hardest to get some racing in on Sunday, but with a dying breeze following the rain, it proved impossible. Just after 11:30 racing was canned for the weekend and with the final horn blown it was champagne all round for the winners Fanatic, Johnny Cooper - 2022 Cape 31 National Champions. Tokoloshe was second on countback, also finishing with 11 points, followed by Squirt with 15 points.
The fleet now looks forward to the Hamble Winter Series - with two days of windward-leeward racing next weekend 15th-16th October, followed by four Sundays of windward leewards in November.
Cape 31 UK National Championships results
