Sunday 25 May 2014

Atlantic Cup : Drama in Inshore Racing as Dragon Hits Rock at Speed


- Top Teams #106 Gryphon Solo 2 and #116 JeffreyMacFarlane.com Separated By One Point Going Into Day 2 of Inshore Racing
- #54 Dragon Hits Rock In First Race of the Inshore Series - Out For Remainder of Regatta


Good breeze for Day 1 of the inshore racing in the Atlantic Cup for Class40 boats. Image copyright Billy Black

by 11th Hour Racing media

Day 1 of inshore racing saw #54 Dragon and #106 Gryphon Solo 2 tied for first place going into the day, with Dragon stating their intention to dominate the Inshore Series. During the first leg of the first inshore race they made good on that promise, putting 200 yards on the fleet on the run to the Beavertail turning mark. Then disaster struck.

Emma Creighton hands on after Dragon runs aground. Image copyright Billy Black

Dragon grounded on a rocky outcrop just before the Beavertail mark, leaving bowman Emma Creighton hanging from the bow sprit and the boat stuck on the rocks. Quick response from the crew saw Emma safely back aboard and the spinnaker down, but the collision forced Dragon from the race with the damage leaving them unable to participate in the rest of the event.

Dragon is hauled out of the water to inspect the damage. Image copyright Billy Black

#39 Pleiad took Race 1 and with Dragon's exit from the race the door is open for Gryphon Solo 2, JeffreyMacFarlane.com, and Pleiad to establish themselves as 2014 Atlantic Cup Champions.

Serious keel-join-to-hull damage was the result of running aground at speed for Dragon. This puts them out of the remainder of the racing. Image copyright Atlantic Cup

The remainder of the day saw lightening breeze and JeffreyMacFarlane.com won Race 2 while also surviving a protest from Gryphon Solo 2.

Inshore racing in the Atlantic Cup. Image copyright Billy Black

In Race 3, Pleiad Racing showed their light air speed and secured first place, leaving the top three boats separated by four points with two races remaining on Saturday, May 25th. Racing starts from Fort Adams at 12pm EDT on Saturday.

Video of Inshore Race Race 1 and Dragon's misfortune:


Current Standings
Team Leg 1 Leg 2 In Shore Races (1, 2, 3) Total Pts.

106 – Gryphon Solo 2 10 6 3 4 4 27
116 – JeffreyMacFarlane.com 4 10 4 5 3 26
39 – Pleiad 6 4 5 3 5 23
54 – Dragon 8 8 0 0 0 16
25 – Flatline 0 2 2 1 2 7

Atlantic Cup