Spring Series Sails Talk
Race 6 - April 16th 2000
The final race of the Series was held in 9-15 knots of breeze on a very busy Solent on the day the Tall Ships fleet departed. The race committee took advantage of the early start by setting courses with plenty of mark roundings to test the crews.
On a course with 14 marks, the two Farr 40s in IRM again showed that this is a very competitive design, taking 1st and 2nd. Quokka showed good speed to take a 3rd in the race and therefore the Series. She will now be part of the English Team that will take on the French at Spi Ouest. Check www.banks.co.uk for the Team's progress.
In IRC 2 Fandango again showed that Banks are THE sails to have on the First 40.7 by leading the fleet around the course. Narrowly beaten into 2nd by 18 seconds on corrected time by Series winner Walk On By, she finished over seven minutes ahead of the next 40.7!
In IRC 4, Windsprite, flying her Banks Dacron Mainsail and Checkmate Pentex AP No.1, scored a 3rd in the race, securing a 3rd in the Series.
Quokka prepares for a spinnaker drop. Photo - Thornycroft. Call 01983 290220 or check www.yacht-photos.co.uk
In late summer 1999 Tim Dixon and Jon Manley commissioned Ker Yacht Design to design them a new IRM 10.7m Level Rater, to be built by Custom-eyes Composites near Romsey. We asked Jason Ker for his thoughts on the new boat:
"The research and design we had done for the IRM 9m Quokka 5 and Shakermaker II gave us a good starting point. The theme of low drag and moderate initial stability achieved by a narrow waterline and very low centre of gravity was continued with the new design.
"The rig will be similar to that of the IRM 9m designs with a cross through lower set of diagonals. The additional support generated by this arrangement allows a thinner mast section and hence less windage, with the rating of only two sets of spreaders.
"Construction is with vacuum bagged and postcured uni-directional E-Glass, epoxy and foam laminates built over male waterjet cut plugs for accuracy."
For the IRM 10.7 we will be building a full suit of Checkmate Kevlar fore and aft sails and Series 2000 spinnakers.
If you are going IRM for 2000 come to the loft with experience; call Banks Sails now on 01489 582444.
TALL SHIPS 2000
Over the past few months the London Sailing Project's Oyster 68 Ketch Rona II has updated most of her inventory with new Banks Sails. The boat will be participating in the Tall Ships Race flying her new Main, Mizzen, No.2 Yankee, Staysail, Spinnaker, Asymmetric and Mizzen Staysail.
The LSP's Rona II flying her new Main, Mizzen and Asymmetric.
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