This year's Channel Race was blessed with good breeze around the 130 mile course with sunshine during the day and warm air temperature at night. The overall winner was the First 40, La Réponse, owned by Peter Morton and RORC Commodore Andrew McIrvine by just under three minutes on corrected time from Neil Kipling's J 122, Joopster. Charles Ivill's Grand Soleil 54, John B, was third but did win Class Zero against some stiff opposition.

"It was a real surprise to win overall," admitted Andrew, co-owner of La Réponse. "Perhaps the tide favoured the medium size boats better but we made full use of it; taking a line down the south side of the island putting us in the strongest tide possible. I must say it was a real delight to have a RORC race with a 60-mile downwind leg; something that doesn't happen too often. A boil in the bag dinner on deck, under spinnaker was a real joy. I will be back at work on Monday, just like everybody else but offshore racing is an excellent way to get away from the stress of work, much better than staring at your navel for the weekend." La Réponse were also victors in IRC One with Joopster second and Sailing Logic's Reflex 38, Visit Malta Puma, third.

Class Zero winner was Charles Ivill's Grand Soleil 54, John B, who beat several competitors against whom they will be competing in next month's Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. "We had a very average start, having a few problems but with the No.1 headsail. We switched to the No. 2 which in the building breeze ended up to be the right sail," commented Charles Ivill. "We had a glorious run down the south side of the island in about 14 knots of breeze. Later in the race the wind got up to about 18 knots. It was a really enjoyable race with a great crew.

"There are no rockstars on John B, we are all friends who love to sail. The youngest on board is Sam Cooper who is just sixteen, he was also on board for the Eddystone Race and the race to St.Malo. Sam won't be with us for the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland, but all of the rest will."

Second in IRC Zero was John Shepherd's Ker 46, Fair Do's VII, with Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3, in third

In IRC Super Zero Derek Saunders' CM 60, Venomous, was the handicap winner. Venomous got off to an excellent start, leading on the water from the British Keelboat Academy's TP52, John Merricks II, as they left the Solent. However John Merricks II fought back to take line honours in just under 14 hours.

Peter Olden's A 35, Solan Goose of Hamble, continued their recent run of form to win IRC Two and the Two-Handed Division, propelling them to third in IRC Two for the Season's Points Championship. From Belgium, Eric Van Campenhout's JPK 110, Rackham, took line honours for the class and second place on handicap with French entry, Didier Dardot's Sphinx 33, Parisfal, claiming third.

Jean Yves Chateau's Nicholson 33, Iromiguy, came out top in IRC Three to open up a slender lead for the Season's Points Championship from Matthias Kracht's JPK 9.60, Ultreia!, who was second in the race. The Phoenix Yacht Club's Starlight 39, Spellbinder of Wytch, was third.

The next RORC racing is a mixture of inshore and offshore races for the Rolex Commodores' Cup. For full results of The Channel Race and much more visit the RORC web site: http://www.rorc.org