The 2022 Vantage Health and Life RC35 Championships is a wrap! Another very close season with tight racing in a great variety of locations and conditions.
The season started with a great turnout of 10 boats at Kip Regatta, where one of the class rookies, John Minnis’s Archambault 35 Final Call II, stole the show taking an event win.
John Minnis’s Archambault 35 Final Call II Photo: Afloat
The class then moved on to Loch Fyne and the Clyde Cruising Club’s Tarbert Regatta. Even though the event had some initial organisational troubles, Loch Fyne delivered with Champagne blue sky sailing in near perfect conditions. Perennial good performer in the RC35 Class, Kevin and Debbie Aitken’s Beneteau First 36.7 recovered from a poor first regatta to take the victory in Loch Fyne.
The class then crossed the Irish Sea for Bangor Town Regatta. Wow, what a windy event. One day, unfortunately, had to be cancelled due to the conditions, but overall it was a fantastic event on and off the water run by the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. Final Call II sailed another great event and managed to take the victory despite not sailing the final race due to damage.
John Stamp on his Corby 33 Jacob VII
The class returned home for the RC35 Championships in the new location of the Holy Loch. The event was expertly run by the Holy Loch Sailing Club through some of the wettest conditions seen all season. John Stamp on his Corby 33 Jacob VII retained his Scottish Champion title in a very close regatta where the top five boats were covered by 3 points.
Then, in what turned out to be the season's final event, Charlie Frize on his Corby 33 Banshee won a light wind regatta at Largs Regatta Festival.
Robin Young’s J109 Jings
Banshee’s win at Largs Regatta Festival meant they took the overall Championship on countback from Robin Young’s J109 Jings, who had led for most of the season. The podium was completed by John Stamp’s Jacob VII.
Overall it was a very close season with three new entrants to the class and the top seven places being covered by only five points.
2022 RC35 Leader board
The class are looking forward to more close racing in Scotland and Ireland in 2023.
Thanks to the RC35 sponsors who make it all possible:
- Vantage Health and Life
- North Sails
- Marlow Ropes
- Musto
- Harken
- Scotia Tree Services
- Scotia Handling Services
