Round the Island Winners!
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Owners of Mystery 35, 'Tumblehome', John Ridehalgh and Kate Saunders wowed everyone with an impressive victory in their category at the Round the Island races. The pair smashed the 8hr target with the elapsed time of 7h 54m 53s, outstripping their closest peer by an astonishing 30 minutes.
John admitted that he and Kate hadn't raced seriously for several years – but they used to! Both were keen to take Tumblehome, having never previously raced her.
John and Kate were overjoyed with first place in the ISC Rating System Div 7D category, coming 9th overall. However, John revealed that he thought they “had a fair chance of winning, as we were given a generous rating.” He also disclosed that he and Kate had always felt that the race was often full of “big boats being sailed badly”, so the pair opted for an experienced amateur crew on their Mystery 35 and gave it everything they had. John gave a brief account of their experience:
"Luck seemed to be with us most of the way round. The start went well, and the first leg was a nice broad reach – ideal for our cruising chute. We found ourselves near the front of Group 7, and overhauling bigger boats which had started earlier. The leg down to St Catherine’s was a close reach, followed by a close hauled leg to Bembridge in a very fluky and gusty wind. The Mystery’s ability to sail close hauled and to power through both gusts and lulls really paid off. On the final leg to the finish we held our own, and were pleased, and a little surprised to get a gun for finishing 2nd. When we saw the handicap results, we were 1st in Group 7, and 9th overall in the ISC classes, out of about 700 boats. That called for a celebration!"
More information about the Round the Island race
Results for John and Kate's category
