Arriving back at Fox’s Marina & Boatyard after a highly successful Caribbean regatta programme, the Humphreys designed 39ft Oystercatcher XXXI made full use of the Fox’s facilities for the fitting of a new lightweight fin and bulb keel. This replaced the yacht’s original simple lead fin keel and reduced displacement by over 500kg, with the same righting moment and a small increase in her IRC rating.
Launched from Fox’s less than two days before the regatta, and the first time out with her new keel, Oystercatcher dominated the Royal Temple Yacht Club’s Ramsgate Week regatta, held from 23-28 July.
Starting with an overall win in the Around the Goodwins Race Oystercatcher went on to win the midweek inshore series and the four race East Coast Regional IRC Championship later in the week. She also won the QE2 Cup overall, and settled for second in the Ramsgate Gold Cup, the only trophy that eluded Oystercatcher in this year’s event.
Following technical problems with her rudder bearings, Oystercatcher retuned to Fox’s to be hauled, her twin rudders dropped and top bearings changed before heading to Cowes for the start of this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, which starts on 6 August.
