The World Match Racing Tour regrets to announce that The Qingdao Match Cup has been cancelled after the local organising authorities were unable to commit to hosting the event.

Despite an agreement having been concluded in June 2010 the local authorities have been unable to meet the requirements outlined by WMRT.

WMRT remains committed to the expansion and development of the world championship series and continues its discussions with potential cities.

(Photo - Amory Ross)

George David (Hartford, Conn.) was shocked at how much wind there was during the sixth annual Ida Lewis Distance Race, even if 17 knots is nothing compared to what his crack crew aboard the 90-foot Rambler has endured before on its many race outings around the world. When Friday’s (August 20) 1p.m. start had to be delayed an hour due to a dieing gradient wind, David wasn’t hopeful that the shortened 122-nm course set for his IRC class would offer much in the way of thrilling winds, but Rambler wound up averaging an impressive 10 ½ knots of speed throughout 12-plus hours of racing, finishing at 2:18 the next morning and correcting out two hours ahead of Ron O’Hanley’s (Boston, Mass.) Privateer.

“We put ourselves in the right places most of the time,” said David, explaining that wind in the teens appeared mostly between turning marks at Montauk and Noman’s Land, and the rest of the legs had navigator Matt Wachowicz and tactician Peter Isler collaborating doggedly on weather transitions, avoiding light spots and determining whether going north of Block Island rather than south had its benefits.  Turns out it did—Rambler and a few others in the 36-boat fleet that chose that route gained considerably—and for its spot-on decisions Rambler received the event’s Navigator’s Award in addition to trophies for best elapsed and best corrected time in the five-boat IRC class.

Strong gusting winds, building throughout the day met competitors for the final day of Ramsgate Week, drawing the regatta, sponsored by Vattenfall, to a very successful close. The regatta, hosted by Royal Temple Yacht Club, was well attended, with many boats travelling from Belgium, France and even Finland.

The IRC Regatta, which ran from Thursday to Saturday, concluded with the fleet competing for the historic Gold Cup which was decided on an aggregate of the two races for the day. The Gold Cup, which was first presented in 1903, is a prestigious trophy and one in which crews compete eagerly for. This year was no exception, but it was Richard Matthews' Humphreys 42 Oystercatcher XXVI who claimed an unassailable victory, winning both races overall. Local boat, Stillelo sailed by John Barrett and Paul Woodward took second place with Robbie & Pippa Stewart's Stewart 109 Booty! from Royal Burnham Yacht Club coming third.

In Class 1, Oystercatcher XXVI and Manta Sailing from Nieuwpoort were battling it out to win the class. But it was Oystercatcher XXVI who won the day and the IRC Regatta for Class 1, with Michel Lefebvre's First 40 Manta Sailing second and Stilleto third.