Latest news 

I do apologise for not updating this recently  - it has been a busy couple of weeks. 
There is an annual race from Jersey to Guernsey which always produces a battle between 
the Channel Islands.  This year, the top IRC overall prize went to Tom Bombadil now 
owned by Dave Williams in Jersey.  I can only imagine a good night out in Guernsey was 
had by all. 
14 QT's took part in the Round the Island race on 20 June - with a 3rd overall in IRC and
Elephant Boatyard Trophy for the first Quarter Tonner going to Scallywag, a Waarship 
owned by Steve Lawrence.   Congratulations to them.
The IRC group 3 team prize went to the three Quarter Tonners, Bullet, Menace and 
Espada.  Bullet and Espada had a great battle and sparred all the way round the island, 
with Espada leading to the Needles, Bullet showing them the way to Bembridge and 
then Espada taking over from Bembridge to the Finish.  A great race.
Several boats didn't make the annual pilgrimage round the island as they were out 
of the water and getting ready to go to Kinsale for the Sovereign's Cup. These included 
Ayanami, who I don't think has missed this race in 28 years, Anchor Challenge, 
Runaway Bus, Odd Job, Diamond and Aguila.  Only Espada decided to do both 
races but it did necessite getting the boat out of the water at 8pm immediately 
after finishing the Round the Island.  
7 boats then travelled to Kinsale in Southern Ireland where we were met by 
Ian Travers, the owner of the Bolero, Bandit, who did an absolute sterling 
job in organising our participation, from launching, berthing, parties down 
to prizes.  As usual though it was the Irish who did the most partying....  
What a great spot, a great regatta and a definite must on the QT calender 
for the next event in 2011.  18 QT's raced together in big Atlantic swells and 
under the very pretty cliff coastline. 
There is now frantic activity in preparation for the Quarter Ton Cup which 
starts with registration and a Welcome Drinks Party on 15th July.   Rupert 
Holmes on Minestrone was seen mastless in the Medina River hoping to pick 
up an spare Etchells mast so I know he has a lot to do to make it to the start line.  
Purple Haze is now sporting a new rig with swept aft spreaders (amazing....!) and 
a few boats are still to be finished. ASAP has yet to be finished and yet to enter 
but they say they are coming....  Hazard, Shamu and Murphy's Law are coming 
down from Blackpool and Fleetwood. We welcome 45 Deg South sailing over from 
France next week and Manzanita is trailing over from Ireland.  Merlin and Illegal 
Immigrant are both new to the fleet, and we look forward to seeing you all out there.   
See you then......  Up to date list of entries can be found on RCYC website.
QTC

Deadline for entering this regatta without paying late entry fee is fast looming. Suggest you log on to www.rcyc.co.uk 
get that entry in soonest!  Then we can start planning. 

Cowes Week

The entry fee for Cowes Week is £300 but rises steeply on 15th June so I suggest you get your entries in soonest.
www.cowesweek.co.uk

Plans are afoot for a Quarter Ton Class drinks party like the one in 2008.  I will keep you posted so whether you
are racing or not, plan to come along for the social.  

Aguila

After an amazingly quick and superb 2 month refit, one of the two Spanish boats is on the water this weekend racing 
in the Vice Admiral's Cup.  Mogor, now called Aguila which is Spanish for Eagle, and owned by Rob Gray is a beautiful 
carbon quarter tonner and she is quick too...   Spotted on the water in Darren's Fairey Huntsman watching progress 
around the race track on Friday was Olly Ophaus who has started the refit of the second Spanish QT. I gather she is 
upside down in the shed and expected on the water in 2010.  

More boats....

Wings, the Stephen Jones quarter tonner we had an inkling was in Holland has surfaced - in Holland.... see the Fleet. 
Also, under Forum - boats for sale, the twice QTC winner MacDonalds also also come to light in Malmo.   Recently 
found in Italy is a sistership for sale of Espada and Anchor Challenge. Still lots out there to choose from!

Royal Southampton YC - Clarkson Cup

To quote Scutttlebutt 14 May - 'Class 4 IRC in first place was the magnificently turned out quarter tonner 
Runaway Bus with 4 bullets....''  Well done guys.  The only QT to turn out last weekend in the Solent but 3
more to give you some competition in the Royal Southern Regatta this weekend.

Farr's Favourites
7 May 2009

On Sailing Anarchy today, Bruce Farr has written an article about his favourite boats, of which he says there are many - 
of course, how can you choose a favourite amongst your children.... However, the second boat he mentions is the 
Farr 727 - 

"Almost at the other end of the spectrum was the little ¼ tonner 45 South, which won the ¼ ton 
Cup Worlds in 1975, changing the design direction of offshore racing yachts in the process.  
A sweet handling, small, light dinghy-like keel yacht with a runner-less single swept-spreader 
fractional rig.  My first production built keel yacht and conceived as a racer/cruiser!  
My first Keel Yacht World Champion, and introduction to the Northern Hemisphere market.  
I was a part owner and helmed that boat to victory in the NZ championships but was unable 
to sail her in the Worlds.  Murray Crockett, Graeme Woodroffe, Roy Dickson, and 
Rob Martin did a superb job in my absence, while I sailed in the Admirals Cup aboard 
Graham Eder’s Gerontius" 

Past Winners of the Quarter Ton Cup

- see the News 2008 section for a list

Hong Kong News

For those of you still working on your boats this Spring, spare a thought for Tets Sakai in HK who 
is still working on his boat.  Thanks to Jamie McWilliam for this update.

Our New Zealand Friends

Those of you at the QT Fitting Out supper will remember that I mentioned that Brett Linton from NZ 
wanted to come over and charter a boat for the QTC and Cowes Week.  Well, Graydon Dawson has
very kindly agreed to charter him Diamond for Cowes Week and he is now completely set for this 
regatta.   However, he will also be over for the QTC in July and is looking for a boat to race on. As
a sailmaker, he would be a good bet for someone looking for a trimmer if any of you are looking for 
one.  He is very keen...... If you are interested, please contact Brett Linton at 
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News from Sao Paulo - 

Maximilian Gorissen, the owner of ORM, last year thought he would ship his boat over from Brazil and come
and join us.  With credit crunch times upon us, he has revisited his plans and they have unfortunately 
decided to stay in Brazil and race in the Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week instead, from 5th to 11th June
and do some work on their boat instead.  

They are trying to get at least 5 boats enter so they can have their own championship - but he says that 
is not easy when the boats are scattered up and down the Brazilian coast. Good luck guys and tell us how 
you get on....

Is that a bunch of grapes in the cockpit? I normally take a flask of tea down to my boatbuilder!

Benodet - Obelix Trophy

Congratulations to Peter Crabbe and the crew of Jackflash who were the only Brit entrants for the Obelix
Trophy this year and won the Quarter Ton Class with 4 x 1sts and 5 x 2nds, against Catch Me, Sante Bois, 
Dollar2, Iota, Pas d'Ecart de Bar, Grass Valley, Quel Dilemme and Ixsea.  Poor Jackflash has had an 
eventful month in that in transit to Portsmouth Docks, their mast fell off the trailer and broke at the top 
when an oncoming car in Hamble Lane ran over it.  On an already tight deadline, it was hastily but 
brilliantly repaired by George Webb at Casse Tete and taken to Portsmouth Docks for a ferry to Jersey, 
but got sent to Guernsey instead.  Oops. 

They then planned to sail to St Malo but got weather bound in Jersey, so I think a bottle of rum to these
guys when they next turn up in Cowes is in order.....    

Vice Admiral's Cup and Quarter Ton Cup

The Notice of Race and Entry Forms are now available to download from the www.rcyc.co.uk
website.  We love getting the entries in - it is a bit like Christmas - it is so exciting to see who is coming, so
please put us out of our misery and enter soon.

Oh No, we have had our first protest.....!

Except that, it was dismissed by the committee - so does that count?   The Red Funnel regatta run over the 
Easter weekend is a must for anyone's sailing calender provided Easter falls in April and not March when there are
no leaves on the trees..... Jim Saltenstall, Barry Dunning and Cathy Foster provide on the water coaching
even during racing, and at one point I think I even saw Jim on Runaway Bus.  It is great to ask advice over 
things like forward and aft trim or sail settings.  If you haven't done this event before - as I haven't - it is well 
worth it. 

Results can be found on the www.rorc.org website together with some photographs, but there was good 
close racing, with wins in IRC Class 3 for Espada, Bullet and Diamond.  Interesting to note how competitive
this class is, in that Quarter Tonners won every race against J80's, Elans, Firsts, X332s and even a Swan. 
Many thanks to the RORC who gave separate trophies (and Easter eggs) for the QT's as well.  

If we get 10 entries for the IRC championships at the beginning of June, the RORC will give us our own 
class start.... and I expect the Elans, Firsts, J80's, X332s and the Swan will be pleased to see the back of us!

IRC Ratings

Several people have asked what the current IRC ratings are for the boats.  I have put a list up under News 2009 
which I will endeavour to keep updated.  However, the RORC now publish a list of current IRC ratings, under their 
new website www.ircrating.org if you need more information.  

Russell Smith

With great sadness, I have to announce the death this morning of Russell Smith, owner of Zipper.  Zipper was kept 
up in Burnham where she successfully raced under IRC frequently winning her class in East Anglia.   
Russell bought her down with a top team from Burnham to compete in the 2006 Quarter Ton Cup.  
He had planned to bring her down South again this season but became ill a couple of months ago.  
Derek Morland (of Purple Haze and more recently Menace) will be attending the funeral - he did the 
1979 Fastnet with Russell.  Zipper was sold this past weekend and will be seen racing in the Solent this summer.  

Dashing Darren

At the QT dinner last week, we were very surprised to see that Olly Ophaus who has just bought his second QT - 
the Pepe Gonzalez Spanish QT - turned up with Darren Marston who was the previous owner of Catch.  Rumours 
ran amok that evening and it transpired after dinner and several bottles of rum that Darren is considering a comeback.

Despite Darren becoming a semi pro on the new multi million Judel Vrolik 60, deep down he knows that the 
competition and up and coming class is the Quarter Tonners!

SJ27

Welcome to the first SJ27 to appear - 'Merlin', sistership to Howard Sellars 'Hannah'.  Recently bought by James 
Watthey with two co-owners, they will be out to play at the Vice Admiral's Cup.   It is still a growing fleet!  

New IRC Rating Website

The RORC launched a new website about 3 weeks ago -  www.ircrating.org and today an article about this class
features - check it out.....

Fitting Out Dinner

The Quarter Ton tradition of having lots of fun and rum continued on Saturday night at the Fitting Out Supper 
attended by 11 boats and their crews. 37 people sat down to dinner with the guest of honour Brian Thompson 
who has recently returned from the Vendee Globe race where he finished 5th.  

The Runaway Bus Trophy for 2008 was presented by Paul Kelsey to Peter Morton on behalf of Paul Treliving (Poldark) 
who was unable to attend at the last moment, who with a 2nd and a 1st beat Bullet who had a 1st and a 2nd in the 
Nab Tower and Tiny Mitchell Trophy events.

Also attending was Jules Salter who as navigator on Ericsson 4 in the Volvo Race had only just returned that day 
from Rio for 4 days r&r back in the UK and who was keen to party with his mates. 

The - what is now becoming traditional - Mount Gay Award was presented to two people - Mike Till who having 
just reached his 70th birthday this year has won the Legend class in a Finn event in Cannes, just done the 
Etchells Worlds and who still does foredeck on his Quarter Tonner.   

The second bottle of Mount Gay was presented to Morty who having spent two years negotiating with the 
Spanish Navy to purchase two 1990 quarter tonners finally got to collect them.  He towed a flat bed trailer 
to Vigo in North Spain without stopping, spent the day packing up the boats, and left the following morning 
for the 10 hour trip to Bilboa to catch the ferry back to Portsmouth. 2 1/2 hours after leaving Vigo, towing 
one of the two boats, the engine on his car blew up and the car and the boat on the trailer had to be retrieved 
on a bank holiday Thursday in Spain at vast expense as he didnt have roadside assistance cover.  

The condition of this prize is that the tops have to taken off and thrown away.......

It certainly makes for a good party.   Lots of stories were told, Brian did an excellent job in telling us all 
how he got round the World and everyone had a good time.  

The Class would like to give a warm welcome to Rob Gray who has bought one of the Spanish boats, and 
Olly Ophaus has bought the other - this being his second quarter tonner, the first - Supernova, he sold to 
Ireland at the end of last year. 

Also new to the Class is Mike Pascall who has bought Pandamonium from Greece but changed to the 
name to Illegal Immigrant on account of the fact that they found one on board on arrival in Dover having 
towed the boat back from Southern Italy.  

Mast for Sale

P  9.47, FL  8.5, J 2.5  - Anyone interested? - email Derek on 
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Snoopy - for sale - 

Here is a boat ready to go for the 2009 season. All extras. Came 3rd in QTC 2008 on second outing. Very good value. 
Contact details for the owner under 'Fleet'.  

Catch Me (if you can)

Guy Pronier, now the proud owner of Catch has renamed her Catch Me.   Clever eh?  Looking forward to hearing his 
news, but believe his first regatta is Spi Ouest.  He is hoping to join us in Ireland for Sovereign's Week. 

Latest pic of Menace.....

Kinsale Sovereign's Cup

Can all those people planning to go to Kinsale from the UK and want to tie in on the ferry block booking offer we have, 
please make contact.  So far I have Anchor Challenge, Diamond, Espada, Bullet, Runaway Bus and Ayanami. 
Thanks - Louise 

Red Funnel Easter Regatta

For those of you planning on doing the Red Funnel Easter Regatta and had noticed that the RORC has
put a restriction on the SSS which knocks out alot of the QT's, - then have no fear, they are producing an 
amendment to the NOR enabling us to attend. Entry deadline is the 13th March.  By the way, they have a fabulous 
on line system for entering races, which makes it painless. www.rorc.org

Phoenix

Phoenix, built by Steve Etheridge and designed by Rob Weguelin has resurfaced in Chichester Yacht Harbour and is 
for sale.  Anyone interested in this should contact me and I will put you in touch with the owner - 

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Swamp Dog

Back in 2005 when we had the first of the Quarter Ton Cup here in Cowes, James Blackburn took part in Quartet - 
some of you may remember.  He then sold the boat, emigrated to New Zealand and never lost touch with us.
He has now bought a Gary Mull designed (although he is not completely sure) boat built in 1981 called
Swamp Dog - see the Fleet for more details and he busily rebuilding her .

Junior

Is now called 'Menace' - wait till you see the spinnaker..... - is now back in Hamble.  
The deck gear has been removed and is being replaced. Watch this space.. They hope to be out by Easter....

Latest Info

You can tell that the pound is weak and the Euro is strong with this example of an Anglo French
swap.  The fully tweaked 'Catch' has been sold to Guy Pronier (who runs the French QT Association) and his boat 
the original 'Junior' has been bought by Tim Rees (who can be seen crewing regularly on either Purple Haze
or Sgt Pepper)   Fantastic, although we will miss you Darren......

Email from Quarter Ton owner Ian Travers

Ian is helping to organise the Sovereign's Week regatta in 2009 and sends the following message:

Delighted to hear you are drumming up support. No doubt things will be a little more difficult for 
people to travel in the New Year.   At the moment I have expressions of interest from 15 boats and 
12 confirmed.  This includes 3 UK boats, and 1 from France.   Irish boats vary from a Manzanita to a
string of Boleros, Starflashes and GK24''s. Preparations for the event are well advanced.  A separate 
class start and course has been agreed by the regatta director and indeed (the legendry - ed) 
Donal McClement has agreed to act as PRO which will no doubt bring its own sparkle.  I have 2 
of the 4 required 'day sponsors' in place and am working on sorting out the remainder.

On the logistical front, I have approached a number of local hotels and am looking for a deal 
from competitors.  More on this early in the New year.  There are also plenty of self catering 
options available in the town. The local boatyard has also agreed a preferential rate for competitors for
lift in, trailer storage and lift out as well as any other services which may be required.  On the transport 
side of things, I have 3 jeeps available to collect boats at Irish ferry ports and transport them to Kinsale. 
This may be of assistance to some owners.

A social programme will be developed in the New Year. On the racing front, we are thinking of having 
a short offshore (6 - 8 hours) 30 miles coastal race.  Other than this the race format intends to be 
windward leewards under the Old Head of Kinsale.  I hope this update helps.  

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Ian Travers - 

(sounds great - Louise) 

2009 PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

April

10 - 12 - Red Funnel Easter Regatta, Cowes
18 - 19 - Raymarine Spring Championships, Cowes

May

30 (April) - 3  - Obelix Trophy Benodet, France 
16 - 17 - Royal Southern May Regatta, Hamble
29 - 31 - Vice Admiral's Cup, Cowes 

June

5 - 7 - RORC IRC Championships, Cowes
20 - Round the Island
24 - 27 - Sovereigns Cup, Kinsale, Ireland 

July

16 - 18 - COUTTS QUARTER TON CUP, Cowes

August

1 - 8 - Cowes Week, Cowes

September

11 - 13 - Jersey Regatta
19 - ISC Nab Tower Race        )  Runaway Bus Trophy
20 - Tiny Mitchell Trophy        )   
26 - 27 - RAFYC Battle of Britain Regatta, Hamble 

October

TBA - HRSC Autumn Championships.  

The initial indications are that owners are keen to go to Ireland for Sovereign's Week and if you are considering one regatta away from the Solent, may I suggest that this is the one we all go for to get the best psosible turnout rather than having the fleet split.  

As usual, I would hope to get good turnouts for the Vice Admiral's Cup, Sovereign's Week, Coutts Quarter Ton Cup, and Cowes Week, but Runaway Bus and Espada are planning to the complete programme above and would like to encourage all the other QT owners to do as much as possible and certainly those in the Solent area.    

There is a topic on the 2009 programme on the forum if anyone has any comments - alternatively feel free to email me.

2009 Season

It would be good to get some feedback as to what people would like to do race wise next year.  Besides the fairly well published Benodet, Vice Admiral's Cup, Kinsale, Coutts Quarter Ton Cup, Cowes circuit, it would be good to get more of the boats out on a regular basis in the Solent by either having specific quarter ton regattas or choose regattas like IRC Royal Southern weekends and RAF Yacht Club regatta for example.   Any feedback would be gratefully appreciated.  I have set up a heading in the forum named 2009 racing and look forward to receiving your comments.  If there is enough support for example, I can approach the RORC about having our own class at the Red Funnel Easter Regatta but I can't do this unless I get some commitment.  

The Itch

Just to prove this website is reaching those parts others don't reach, we in Cowes have a new playmate.  Berry arrived in Cowes today towing his Quarter Tonner, 'The Itch' all the way from Holland.  He has been racing against an Etchells amongst other things and decided he needed some proper like for like competition, so is committing to spending 2009 in Cowes. I went down to welcome him to our not so sunny island this afternoon and showed him round the important places like Tiffins, the Chandlery and David Heritages fine establishment so he knows where to buy his coffee, his tide book and where to get his boat mended.   

Be quick if you want to check it out - it will only be in the Yacht Haven for two weeks prior to going into a shed on the South side of the Island (he has relatives here) for the winter.  

You will know it when you see it - even the trailer is painted yellow!  

Talking of fine establishments - I am now working at David Heritage Racing Yachts - so if anyone needs any work doing to their quarter tonners, do get in contact.  He is a brilliant boatbuilder and a perfectionist so you know the job will be done well, and I am very good at answering the phone.......

Examples of his work including the refurb on Runaway Bus and Snoopy.  

Autumn Championships

The Garmin Winter Series are holding an Autumn Championships over the weekend of the 25th and 26th October (I am assured there will still be leaves on the trees).  Espada, Runaway Bus and Bullet are all threatening to turn up.  We need 6 entries to have our own class start.  I gather ASAP is already in the shed, but there must be some others of you out there......

http://www.garminhamblewinterseries.co.uk

Talking of sheds, Anchor Challenge is in the shed and work has commenced.....

Battle of Britain Regatta

Three Quarter Tonners made it to the start line of this lovely small IRC regatta run by the RAF Yacht Club last weekend.  Runaway Bus, Senator Incitatus and Espada.  Runaway Bus made a stunning strong start to the regatta and led for most of the first race and only finished 20 seconds or so behind Espada, who were very pleased to eventually beat her over the water, but after some sandwiches, Espada made it to the front of the fleet for the second two races that day, all three races of which were run in under 7 knots of wind.  Espada couldn't race on Sunday so was rather hoping that the mist would hold and no wind would be forthcoming for the day, but the RAF managed to run one short race over on the Bramble Bank and Runaway Bus led the fleet all the way round the short windward leeward course giving Runaway Bus the overall Battle of Britain Trophy. It certainly was a battle! Congratulations to Runaway Bus who must get the prize for entering the most regattas during 2008.  

Runaway Bus Trophy

Quarter Tonners dominated both the Nab Tower Race and the Tiny Mitchell Trophy this weekend in Cowes which with a combined result has now formed the Runaway Bus Trophy thanks to Paul Kelsey.   Saturday dawned with little wind and blue skies and a big hole in the wind off Osbourne Bay.  However, a warm easterly soon filled and the fleet comprising of Farr 52's down to folkboats set off.   Bullet dominated the day, but was led round the course by Odd Job sailed by Morty and his crew with Poldark on the bow.  Behind was a battle between Runaway Bus and Espada and behind them another battle between Arbitrator and Ayanami.   Bullet 1st, Odd Job 2nd, Runaway Bus 3rd and Espada 4th overall - pretty good going!

Sunday was also fair with a 10 knots and the Quarter Tonners started with the bigger boats and a booming fair tide beat across the start line.  In this race, Espada led to the top mark but was soon overtaken by Odd Job downwind and that amazing downwind flyer Bullet.  Odd Job 1st, Bullet 2nd, Runaway Bus 3rd and Espada 4th.  

Brewin Dolphin Jersey Regatta

If you are going to be stormbound with your sailing mates anywhere in the world, then Jersey is not a bad place to start.  The seafood is fantastic, the restaurants obliging (kept missing bottles of wine off the bill.....), the locals very friendly, and the bottles of Rose endless.   That is how it was last weekend, when Espada and her crew arrived to take on the might of the Jersey quarter ton fleet.   Sadly, they were the only boat to travel from England - I don't know why - but it was a shame. Gale force south easterlies ensured that no - one ventured into the boiling seas that featured magnificently in St Aubins Bay for the first two days, and the seas lingered around for the third - to make the sailing conditions very different to the usual Solent chop.  The St Helier Yacht Club was incredibly helpful in cancelling the racing in good time to book lunch each day (top marks!)  The locals consisted of Jackflash (actually, not quite local as she had motored up from St Malo the previous week), Odd Job, Too Farr and Super Q.   All hands were there to help with launching, rigging and and to make sure that the Espada team had a good time.   Jackflash sadly lost her rig on the first almighty downwind puff of the first race, and Odd Job showed us where she was by lying on her side regularly.   Espada (who also laid it down flat) won all three races - second was Odd Job - third was Too Farr just one point clear of Super Q.  

Photo by Gary P le Feurve  www.gppictures.com/galeries/htm

Quarter Tonners are truely international

This week I received an email from Patrick McCosh who describes himself as an 'avid sailor and Treasurer of the Sailing Association of Zimbabwe'.   On Lake Kariba which is 150 miles long and a freshwater sailing and wildlife paradise they have a Theta and a whole fleet of Sweat Peas.  The latter were the first production quarter tonners in South Africa designed by Angelo Lavranos.  Welcome to the class guys - send us a photo! 

For those interested - there were three famous one off quarter tonners built in South Africa - Red Baron, Fuel Free and the distiinctive Royal Flush.  Royal Flush campaigned by North sailmaker Geoff Meek won the Quarter Ton Cup  in 1985 in Ajaccio.   

Burnham Week Report

Zipper did fantastically well - congratulations to Russell Smith, who describes her as a '35 year old bit of plywood'.   Zipper won the Champions Bell for the best yacht in IRC 1, 2 and 3, as well as winning the Bank Holiday Weekend Class, the Royal Thames Trophy, and the European Ferries Cup.  Everyone was talking quarter tonners at the prize giving..... 

Chris Frost and Kevin George have taken Tom Bombadil back to Falmouth from whence she came, and are leading their class in Falmouth Week.  http://www.falmouthweek.org/ for full details.   

Cowes Week Results

Espada wins the Hamble Yacht Services Trophy for the top Quarter Tonner in Cowes Week.  Bullet was second and Ayanami third.  Many thanks to all those who entered their boats (including Poldark in Odd Job, who didn't race, but kindly made up the numbers so we had 15 entries).  A great week was had by all.   I have already put a marker down with Cowes Combined Clubs that we would very much like our own class start in Cowes Week 2009, so pencil the dates into your diary now - 1st to 9th August 2009 and come and join the class.  

Nab Tower Race and Tiny Mitchell for the RUNAWAY BUS TROPHY

Looking ahead to the next but one event for the Quarter Ton fleet - the weekend of the 20th and 21st September when Paul Kelsey and the team on Runaway Bus have put up a trophy for the Quarter Ton Class for a combined score in the Nab Tower Race organised by the Island Sailing Club (download the NOR at www.islandsc.org.uk) and the Tiny Mitchell Trophy run by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club on the Sunday (download the NOR at www.rcyc.co.uk)  

Cowes Week News

In the lead at the top mark after a blinder of a first leg off the committee boat start yesterday (Tuesday 5th) was Ayanami, owned by the quarter ton guru, Roger Swinney.  So completely chuffed to be in this position that his foredeck crew took this picture to show the world.   Fab result Roger to consolidate this into a 2nd at the end of the day.  

Nearly 100 people enjoyed the drinks party at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club on Sunday 3rd August - the first time we have done this to coincide with having a Quarter Ton Class in Cowes Week.   Almost every crew competing was there together with other owners and crews even though they weren't racing this week - Purple Haze with a big contingent from Hamble (no party is complete without these guys!) and David and Mary Tydeman from Snoopy.  We were pleased to welcome Keith McCullugh who has chartered Diamond this week. Also attending were Willie McNeill and Mike Pascall who have recently purchased a Ceccerelli boat from Greece.   A bottle of rum was presented to Paul Kelsey and the team from Runaway Bus for their spectacular wipe out at Gurnard and subsequent holing. 

Results and news from Cowes Week can be found on their website www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk

Jackflash - Quarter Ton Cup

Do any of you remember this?  We were too busy trying to keep our own boat upright at the time, but here is what happened to Jackflash and the boys from Jersey during the Quarter Ton Cup.   Fiona Brown, who does all our wonderful PR,  was out on the water that day and rushed to their rescue and we rather thought that this moment had gone uncaptured. However Peter Mumford from Beken of Cowes was also out there and got this brilliant photograph.   Beken are really good at getting 'those moments' - remember the picture of Silk nosediving? 

More great photos from the QTC can also be found on their website - www.beken.co.uk.  Scroll down to find The Day's Photography and then scroll down again to find 17th June Coutts Quarter Ton Cup and you should find 750 brilliant photographs of this event.  You can see that we were blessed with wind and sunshine.  For anyone half interested in Quarter Tonners, prepare yourself for a nostalgic moment!  

Credit - Peter Mumford, Beken of Cowes

Fiona has written a marvellous article for the current Yachts & Yachting (end July issue) on the Quarter Ton Cup this year, so if you haven't got a copy, go buy it now! 

Cork Week

Congratulations to Ian Travers who won IRC Class 6 at Cork Week in his Bolero, Bandit.  Good effort and an impressive scoreline against a good mixture of boats.  The UK boats are look forward to coming to Kinsale, Ireland in June 2009 for Sovereigns Week......  

Pandemonium

Welcome to the Class - Willy McNeil and Mike Pascall who have bought the 1990 Giovanni Ceccarrelli designed 1/4 tonner from Greece and renamed 'Illegal Immigrant'.  Currently lying Poole with everything removed and looking rather sorry for itself, apparently.   Mike and Willy are coming to the Class Party in Cowes Week so we look forward to meeting them.  

Skandia Cowes Week 2008 - Invitation to THE party of the week.......

This year for the first time, the Quarter Tonners have their own class start (1120 or 1130 each day depending on whether it is a line or committee boat start).  A list of entries can be found on the Cowes Week website - www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk together with the results for those of you not participating.   

Quarter Ton Class Drinks Party at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club on Sunday 3rd August 6.30 to 8 pm for all Quarter Ton owners and their crews...... - whether you are sailing a/your quarter tonner or not, we would love to see you.   Tickets are £10 and can be purchased in advance from This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .   It gives us a great opportunity to put faces to names, get the 'on the water' banter going for the week, set up side bets, get the other crews drunk, etc etc. Look forward to seeing you there.

DRESS CODE:  Men - long trousers, collared shirts.  Ladies - Chic.  

SuperNova, Solidarity and Tom Bombadil

Are all for sale.  Check out the Forum for details. 

Round the Island Race (again)

Jan Ford who sails on Ayanami has sent through this wonderful photograph taken from their boat of Sgt Pepper (Richard & Anna Thomas) during the Round the Island Race.  It reminds me of those on the limit conditions we had from the Needles round to Bembridge.  What a great race.   

Round the Island Race

Congratulations to Darren Marston and his team on Catch who won the Elephant Boat Yard Trophy for the first Quarter Tonner under IRC in the Round the Island Race.  It was an epic race and one that will be discussed for many years to come.   On Espada we had stashed a brilliant picnic below but downwind between the Needles and Bembridge Ledge in limit conditions (who didn't broach or chinese gybe?) we were unable to go below and retrieve anything.  Indeed discovered that lunch too far forward causes excessive nosediving...... The Catch boys sailed hard (and partied hard afterwards as well) and deservedly won the class.   Second was a Waarship who has yet to come and play with us - 

For all information, press releases, photographs and results on the 2008 Quarter Ton Cup, go to www.rcyc.co.uk 

Wanna know what some people are up against?

Here is a picture of Morty's rig.  Less than a week to go to the Quarter Ton Cup, and on borrowing the second podger to step the rig (the first one broke yesterday) the current Quarter Ton Cup Champion Morty's rig snapped in three when Ritchie put a little pressure on the base to get it through the deck at 8pm this evening.   Morty has every intention of not buying a single new thing for his boat, Anchor Challenge, before the regatta next week and I can assure you the boat is very..... how can I say it .....old.    Still, not to be put off by small detail like no rig, he has gone off to Southampton this evening to search out Catch's old rig and rigging......  If he turns up next Sunday evening, I think a bottle of Mount Gay may well be in order.......

Women's Open Keelboat Champions

A Quarter Tonner wins!  Hurray. Good for the class.  It must be all that practicing against the boys that has done it!

A weekend of varied weather provided the backdrop for the three day Poole Regatta 2008. The largest IRC class with 18 boats entered was IRC 3, with 15 coming to the line. Chris Hawkes GK24 'Minx' and 'Ayanami' were the only 2 Quarter tonners racing. Sadly missed were Diamond and an unknown, we think, Farr one-off called Northern Dancer with a quarter ton size rating but which never showed.

As with all handicap fleets there was a great mixture of boats from the Sigma 33's to MGC27's, an Impala amd a couple of big one off's. A bit like last Cowes week except that all the courses were triangle/sausage, so all those Quarter Ton windward/leewards provided a great training ground. Saturday was breezy with a Force 5/6 easterly ripping into the course area off Studland Bay giving some good long surfs downwind. Only two races were possible one rather long, the second incredibly short, with the bigger boats doing well, thumping through the swell to win, but Ayanami hung in there close behind.

Sunday was glorious as the rain had passed through overnight to leave a sunny day with a Southerly Force 2/3 that provided enough little shifts to make it interesting. The backdrop of the Purbeck Hills and Old Harry Rocks made great scenery. The bigger boats didn't do quite so well, with the Impala 'Parallel Universe' (obviously set up well, recently belonging to a Quarter Ton man!) getting a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, but the consistent Ayanami managed a 2nd, 1st,2nd.

Monday, as you will know, was completely blown out by the weather which left 'Ayanami' as the overall class winner with a 2,3,2,1,2 score and Chris Hawkes 'Minx' a very good 7th (7,6,9,5,8) amongst so many bigger boats. An MGC27 Tiger Lily was 2nd (4,3,4,3,1) with Parallel Universe (6,7,1,2,3) 3rd.

It was a great weekend, and sponsored by International Paints, the 1st prize included a voucher for 2 cans of rather expensive anti-fouling, not much use to you dry sailers, but then Ayanami has never been a 'dry' boat. On the delivery trip to Poole, Mike served up Pimms (with ice and mint of course) on the windward rail before we got to Gurnard! But we are aware of our place in the order of things and when Parallel's owner said how good we were going, we did point out that we know of 20 faster Quarters we could bring next time! His face sank!

Roger Swinney

100 boats now registered on our website!

Wow!  Not bad! and they come from as far afield as China, Russia, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, NZ and The States......  Prize to the 100th boat to register is a David Thomas boat lying ashore in Exeter and for sale - 'Imagination'

Crew required for Cowes Week

Olly Ophaus is looking for crew for Supernova for Cowes Week.   Please make contact with him direct if you are keen, willing and enthusiastic about Quarter Tonners.    This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Brits 1st, 2nd and 4th in the Obelix Trophy

(Trafalgar) Battle No 2 took place last week with 6 British boats v 9 French Boats in a mixture of racing conditions in Benodet.   This is a really good regatta to attend with the efficient launching facilities all included in the race entry fee and everything readily available. Espada helmed by Peter Morton and crewed by the girls (Louise, Liz, Libby, Lucy and Nicky) won with Bullet 2nd (Mike, Howard, Dougal, John and Charlotte) and Runaway Bus (Paul, Peter, Vicky, Nigel & David) 4th.   Third place was  'l'homme angleterre honoraire', Laurent Beaurin in 45 deg South on account of his participation in racing the season on the British side of the channel for the past 3 years!  Ayanami threw a drinks party in a fabulous house they rented just up from the Yacht Club which started the regatta off well, and Guy Pronier head of the French QT class organised a lovely dinner on the Friday night attended by 10 crews and the President of the Yacht Club de l'Odet.  Full results can be found on www.yco-voile.com.  Some photographs have been uploaded into the photo gallery.  If anyone has any others they would like to include, please send through to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

Samurai in the West Country

Congratulations to Samurai from Plymouth who reports some good results in IRC having recently won the Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club Spring Series and the second leg of the Falmouth Triangle race against a stiff IRC fleet.   Go the QT's.....

Cowes Week Notice of Race

The Cowes Week Notice of Race has now been published and they have featured a pic of a Quarter Tonner. Mine, not yours - sorry lads, so I am rather chuffed.  The bow on picture of Espada, taken by Rick Tomlinson, has also been used on the homepage of the www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk website on the Ladies Day Button.  Check it out - and enter this great regatta..  Don't forget we need 15 boats for our own class.   One gentlemen on the forum of the Cowes Week website is looking for a Quarter Tonner to charter...so if any of you are in two minds as to whether you are going to race your boats, please consider this option as it will swell the numbers. 

Quarter Ton Cup

Third entry has arrived in from John Spottiswood who owns the MG26.   The interesting and most exciting thing about the first three entries is that they are all from boats who have not competed in this event before.  

I have had an email in this week from Olivier Hays of Farrniente, the Farr 727 from Le Havre.  He is sailing over just prior to the event (that deserves a bottle of Mount Gay in itself) and will be looking for a fourth crewmember to help them (drink it!).  Any offers?  

Manzanita Spanish Website

Carlos Rosell Tornel has just registered his Manzanita with us and it is well worth taking a look at his website - www.manzanita-quarterton.com.  I don't speak spanish (should have worked harder at school!) but you can get the gist!   

Stewart 24

Is a Stewart 24 a Quarter Tonner? - answers please to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Not bad news - sad news

I don't normally like to report bad news, but since this photo is widely available, I might as well show it here. Sadly, Runaway Bus, the only quarter tonner to make it to the start line in the Red Funnel Easter Series last weekend lost her rig on Sunday. He is hoping to be back up and running for Benodet.    Thanks to Rick Tomlinson for this photograph.

Update from Russia

Interesting registration this week from Ivan from Moscow of his Conrad 25 called Ulan.   He tells us that his boat was built in Poland and they sold more than 100 to Russia.  50 regularly race in Moscow and 30 in Vladivostok.  QTC 2010??!! What about it boys...... There is a class association website www.25ft.org.   Tom Bombadil is a Conrad 25 so maybe Kevin Georgski and Chris Frostonov would like to send me a translation.

The Runaway Bus Trophy

Paul Kelsey, owner of Runaway Bus has kindly donated a perpetual trophy to the Quarter Ton Class to be known as 'The Runaway Bus Trophy'.   This year it will be presented to the Quarter Tonner with the best combined results for the Nab Tower Race (run by the Island Sailing Club) and the Tiny Mitchell Trophy (run by the RCYC) over the weekend of 20th and 21st September 2008.  Many thanks Paul.

Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club

Back in December I reported that Murphy's Law has been sold and gone to live at the Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club.  Yesterday I received this email:

'I have recently bought the Starflash Jonathan Star.  She is now back at Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club having a full refit and hopefully will be ready for the coming season. I used to sail on Jonathan Star 25 years ago when she was owned by my late Father in Law Ron Smith who had a lot of success with her racing in the Irish Sea in the early 80's so its good to have her back in the family!  We are going to sail her  in Irish Sea events in 2008 as with being Commodore of our Yacht club this year I am quite tied with local events.  We have a growing Quarter Ton class at B&FYC and next year we will all hopefully be joining the Southern Fleet for some of your regattas' - Ken Bailey.

Great, we look forward to it! - Louise

Pacifist - back in original hands

Duncan Peace has recently bought Pacifist - a boat he designed during the Winter of 1981 - a couple of years after graduating from Southampton University.  

'She was built by Steve Etheridge and Neville Hutton and work commenced in the Spring of '81 and she was launched in time for Cowes Week. I continued to sail the boat for a couple of seasons, culminating in the 1/4 Ton Cup in 1984, then sold the boat to concentrate on a career and some one design racing - mostly J24's.   Refit work has commenced and I hope to be on the water in time for the Quarter Ton Cup in June.' 

Look forward to welcoming you to the Class.

It is emails like this that keep us going......

" I'm so glad I found your site while surfing today. It was great seeing some of your images of fine old quarter ton yachts. I was fortunate to be involved in the class in the US back in the 70s & 80"s, and also still the inherited original owner of a Doug Peterson Quarter Ton ( Oliver) manufactured by Plastrend (Composite Technology) back in the 70's. My father was an avid racer and thankfully shared his passion with me and changed my life. I have some old pics of US boats " Star Eyed Stella, Magic Bus, Fun, Expresso, Business Machine, Ticled Pink, Diablo, and others as well as a good assortment of UK boats that I took photo's of at Cowes Week back in the late 70's.  Oliver has been mothballed for many years now with plans to refit once my time allows. I would be glad to locate, Scan , and share these with you if you have a use for them, additionally I belive I have some NA 1/4 Ton Newsletters that could be shared. Thanks for the memories." 

Jon Salis
Palo Pinto Texas 

Favors changes hands

The day before the QTC this year, I appealed through this website for crew to help the French 3 man team on Farrniente who had sailed over from le Havre.   Responding to the call at short notice was John Spottiswood, a Director of Raymarine, who bubbled away with excitement over the weekend.  Since then he has quietly been searching for the right boat to join the class and last week completed the purchase on the MG 26 Tony Castro designed Favors.  Congratulations John.  We are pleased to welcome you into the fleet.   We look forward testing the latest Raymarine products.