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X-35 Cool Runnings (Photo: Eddie Mays) |
X-35 Gets off to a great startOnly 24 hours after arriving by truck, we managed to get the X-35 on the water for a short 2 hour tuning and training session. On the short sail in 8 knots of breeze, she felt great and showed great speed towards an IMX 40. The next day we competed in the first race of the Warsash Spring Series. With a rating of 1.057 we were in the competitive IRC 2 class with 26 entrants.
The conditions were quite different from the tuning day before, with 15 to 24 knots of wind, we had to do some more tuning of the rig, nevertheless, she showed excellent speed and height off the start and although we were still learning how to sail her, we managed to go around the first windward in 2nd place just seconds behind the first boat.
As we are one of the smallest rated boats in the fleet, the X-35 was solidly in the lead at the time. On the next jib reach and spi reach, she showed great speed and hung onto the bigger boat easily. On the next two beats the wind increased to 20+ knots and we lost some on the two leaders of the fleet. Primarily because of a windshift and the fact that we sailed the boat with a crew of 8 instead of the 10 allowed for this IRC series.
With the tide increasing, the two leading boats sailed slightly ahead of us on rating leaving us in a credible third place. We were extremely happy with the result, considering we had had very little experience in the boat and spent most of the race getting to grips with her. During the race, she showed phenomenal speed and height upwind and was really fine to helm. I can't wait until the next race to reveal more of her hidden potential!
Jochem Visser / X-Yachts (GB) Ltd. RESULTS for Warsash Spring Series - Race 1 POS | YACHT TYPE | YACHT NAME | CORRECTED TIME |
1 | First 40.7 | Playing Around | 02:44:29 |
3 | X-35 One Design | Cool Runnings | 02:46:46 |
5 | Prima 38 | Mostly Harmless | 02:50:11 |
X-35 "Cool Runnings" - Winner of Race 2
19 March 2006
“Cool Runnings” is one of the lowest rated boats within IRC 2 at 1.056, with an IMX 40 rated 1.093 at the high end, followed by a group of mid-rated boats around the 1.080 band.
We started this race in a North easterly breeze which ranged between 15 to 20 knots, with a strong tide flowing to the East, and a start from the pin end.
On this first beat one of the crew fed back information from the rail that we were “higher and faster" which is welcome information for any driver. We were then headed slightly, and therefore tacked, and managed to cross the whole 20+ fleet within 5 min of the start.
The boat showed her astonishing ability to point very high with good speed, and gave us further proof when we managed to lee bow another competitor on the approach to the windward mark which we rounded in first place!
On the next two runs against the tide, we stretched our lead to 1 minute.
On the next short beat, which had a short high chop sea, we found ourselves with more than a 2 minute lead going around the weather mark.
The elapsed and corrected time on the results sheet speak for themselves, with our corrected time win of 4 minutes and 28 seconds.
Jochem Visser. X-Yachts (GB) Ltd. RESULTS for Warsash Spring Series - Race 2 POS | YACHT TYPE | YACHT NAME | CORRECTED TIME |
1 | X-35 One Design | Cool Runnings | 02:23:39 |
2 | First 40.7 | Playing Around | 02:28:07 |
3 | Kerr 36 | Software Mistress | 02:28:36 |
4 | Swan 46 | Lowly Worm | 02:30:14 |
X-35 "Cool Runnings" in Race 3
26 March 2006
Looking at the weather forecast in the morning, we thought we would have to batten down the hatches as the forecast was reading up to 35 knots of wind. Thankfully this promised wind did not arrive.
We had an exciting start to the race, battling for the Pin End with two other boats; however, one of the premature starters to weather of us did not return for a restart, and continued to sail over us on the first beat. This forced us to tack out early and out of the favourite tide; however, we still made it in third position at the top mark.
The wind state was patchy and shifty but our good upwind speed allowed us to claw back through the fleet. On two of the runs in light airs, the X-35 was particularly impressive, but luck was not on our side, as we approached the finish line, we were blocked by a large cargo ship and crossed the finish line in second place losing by 17 seconds.
The consistent performance of the X-35 in both heavy and light airs is paying off, and currently we have a solid lead in the series, and look forward to the remaining races.
Jochem Visser X-Yachts (GB) Ltd.
RESULTS for Warsash Spring Series - Race 3 POS | YACHT TYPE | YACHT NAME | CORRECTED TIME |
1 | Kerr 36 | Software Mistress | 02:28:57 |
2 | X-35 One Design | Cool Runnings | 02:29:14 |
3 | First 40.7 | Playing Around | 02:32:17 |
5 | Mills 36 | Prime Suspect | 02:34:57 |
X-35 "Cool Runnings" in Race 4
2 April 2006
On Sailing out to the start area, the conditions looked fantastic, with sun and 20 knots of westerly wind; however, we received last minute warnings from forecasters that we would be expecting winds of up to 30+ knots for the late afternoon.
We managed to get off to a good start and had clear wind up the northerly side of the beat. Shortly after the start, the winds blew up to around 27 to 30 knots and the larger, heavier boats had a clear advantage upwind, being able to drive through the strong tide and waves.
Downwind, it was our turn, and as the winds further increased to 30+knots, we achieved great speeds surfing in the Solent swell. We quickly closed in on the leaders with boats broaching all around us. The remainder of the race became a game of survival with winds gusting up to 40 knots, and with us recording downwind speeds in excess of 17 knots! The X-35 proved to be exciting downwind and the crew were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Although the conditions did favor the heavier boats, we turned in a respectable 5th place, and are still looking good on the overall series score.
Furthermore, the X-35 proved to be strong and reliable with no breakages, while more then 30 boats retired across the fleets.
Jochem Visser X-Yachts (GB) Ltd. RESULTS for Warsash Spring Series - Race 4 POS | YACHT TYPE | YACHT NAME | CORRECTED TIME |
1 | Swan 46 | Lowly Worm | 02:28:57 |
2 | First 40.7 | Playing Around | 02:29:14 |
3 | Reflex 38 | Puma Logic | 02:32:17 |
5 | X-35 One Design | Cool Runnings | 02:34:57 |
Winner again - Race 5
9 April 2006 During the tune up prior to the race start, we were very confident about our speed. We adjusted the rig slightly to suit the conditions and had to make some early decisions where to start along the start line, but with a good 8-12 knot breeze and bright sunshine, we were all raring to go. Among the tide favouring the port end and some good looking right hand shifts favouring the right, we opted for the latter with roughly half the fleet following. We had a good right hand shift during the start favouring our end and a group of 8 boats separated quite a distance from the remaining fleet. In the medium breeze the X-35 really excelled upwind and we managed to get around the first mark with a 1 minute lead on our rivals.
On the runs against a neap tide, the X-35 surprised us by pulling away at least a minute or more on each run on the bigger rated boats behind us. Tricky shift and strong pressure lanes still made us work hard upwind to make sure we would cover our opponents. The final beat up the finish was great as we sailed excellently with good height, speed and first rate tactics.
We were now winning by a huge lead of 6 min and 20 seconds on the second placed boat on handicap. The biggest margin in this series so far, you could imagine the smile on owners Thorkild Juncker’s face when he went home with another good supply of Champagne.
Jochem Visser. X-Yachts (GB) Ltd. RESULTS for Warsash Spring Series - Race 5 POS | YACHT TYPE | YACHT NAME | CORRECTED TIME |
1 | X-35 One Design | Cool Runnings | 02:38:18 |
2 | First 40.7 | Playing Around | 02:44:38 |
3 | Seaquest 36 | Circus | 02:45:49 |
5 | Prima 38 | Most Harmless | 02:47:36 |
X-35 "Cool Runnings" - Overall Winner
23 April 2006
Sunday 23rd April, the final race of the Warsash Spring Series 2006. An early morning start for me and one I won’t forget for a long time. I was checking the weather and undertaking all the essential pre-race preparations, when my wife announced suddenly that she was in labour with our overdue and expected second child, I was now unable to take the helm for this finale, so my replacement Will Howden took over as driver and skipper.
Although ‘Cool Runnings’ were leading the Series, they still had to be in the top 3 to be sure of an overall victory. They motored out towards the start line in a relatively light breeze between 6 and 8 knots. The crew became too eager on the start line and started too early. Having to assume a penalty, by returning to the line, they faced a big challenge to make up for lost ground during this short finale.
Fortunately, the X-35 reveled in the conditions of the day and proved this in the final downwind run by sailing quickly, yet steadily through the lee of 5 competitors to their victory. Back onshore, there was initial confusion regarding the results, but justice prevailed and they were rightfully awarded 1st place, which secured their overall win in the Warsash Spring Series 2006, the largest IRC Class, complete with 27 competitors.
On the whole, we were thrilled with this result, especially since we are newly learning about the potentials of the X-35 One-Design Class. She is a delight to sail and we have thoroughly enjoyed campaigning her. She is an agile and very responsive boat which will reward any eager, competitive crew.
Jochem Visser
X-Yacht (GB) Ltd RESULTS for Warsash Spring Series - Race 6 - FINALE POS | YACHT TYPE | YACHT NAME | CORRECTED TIME |
1 | X-35 One Design | Cool Runnings | 01:23:44 |
3 | Kerr 36 | Software Mistress | 01:24:26 |
4 | Prima 38 | Mostly Harmless | 01:24:56 |
OVERALL RESULTS
POS | YACHT TYPE | YACHT NAME | POINTS |
1 | X-35 One Design | Cool Runnings | 8 |
2 | First 40.7 | Playing Around | 10 |
3 | Kerr 36 | Software Mistress | 21 |
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