The RC35 Scotland season kicks off in two weeks' time at MS&P Kip Regatta on the 13th and 14th of May.
After a very close 2022 season, where the top three places were covered by one point, all the teams are looking forward to getting back on the water and resuming the close racing.
The concept of the RC35 Class is to bring together similar boats within a close handicap banding and to work with owners and crews to develop the best racing experience possible on the Clyde and the Irish Sea area.
Mocking J is one of six J109s that make up the 13-boat RC35 class
The full season looks like:
RC35 Series 2023
RC35 Series 2023 - 1 discard if 5 or more events completed
As Afloat reported recently, the RC35s also host the Celtic Cup to encourage Irish boats to get involved, and this is a limited series with two Scottish and two Irish events, with the hope that the Irish boats may join the full Scottish programme. As regular Afloat readers know, Howth J/109 Storm was the winner of the 2022 Cup.
RC35 Celtic Cup 2023
Celtic Cup 2023 1 discard if 4 events completed
The usual suspects are all there for 2023. Black Prince (First 35) is returning after a couple of seasons on the East Coast of Scotland, and there is a completely new boat from Ireland, the IMX38 eXcession, that will be a good addition to the class.
Robin Youngs' J109 Jings competing at the 2022 Kip Regatta
The Class already has 13 entries from Scotland and Ireland.
RC35 Series 2023 competitors
The top three from last year, Banshee (Corby 33), Jings (J109) and Jacob VII (Corby 33), will be ready for battle again but will be challenged by other J109s.
Jacob VII, a Corby 33, is a member of the Scottish RC35 class
Storm II will be attending more Scottish events this year and will be challenging the front of the fleet as always. Mocking-J and Salamander will be pushing harder this year after becoming more familiar with their boats, and Blue Jay will be looking to build consistency into their results.
J109 Blue Jay at Kip Regatta 2022
Final Call II (Archambault 35) will be up for the challenge as well after some damage ruled them out of some events last year.
