Jangada win RORC Yacht of the Year

Jangada, Richard Palmer's British JPK 10.10 announced as RORC Yacht of the Year 2020. L to R: Richard Palmer and Jeremy Waitt with the Somerset Memorial Trophy - awarded for outstanding racing achievement by a RORC Member © RORC

The 2020 RORC Yacht of the Year, winning the Somerset Memorial Trophy is the British JPK 10.10 Jangada, owned by Richard Palmer.

Racing with Jeremy Waitt as crew, Jangada was the overall winner of the RORC Transatlantic Race and winner of the Two-Handed Class for the RORC Caribbean 600. Only two other Two-Handed teams have won the award before; Shaun Murphy with Slingshot in 2006 and Nick Martin with Diablo-J in 2012.

For the first time in the history of the club the RORC Season’s Points Championship had to be cancelled. Health restrictions made it impossible to run overnight races for all IRC classes. Whilst Richard Palmer was recovering from a knee operation, Jangada was raced Two-Handed by Jeremy Waitt and Shirley Robertson, winning the newly organised Two-Handed Autumn Series.

Richard Palmer's JPK 10.10 Jangada wins the RORC Yacht of the Year: "It is a huge accolade to be recognised by one’s peers in such a way," says Palmer © Rick Tomlinson

Since 1965, the Somerset Memorial Trophy has been awarded for outstanding racing achievement by a RORC Member. Despite most of the 2020 season being cancelled, the RORC Committee thought it appropriate to continue with the history of the trophy in highlighting the outstanding racing achievement of Jangada in 2020.

Richard Palmer was asked to comment on receiving the award and what advantages a Corinthian team may have: “I’m delighted for Jangada, for those that have raced onboard, and all the people who support our campaign. As Corinthian sailors we are in control of our campaign, the races we choose, the investment in the boat and the pace we set, which places us under less external pressures or constraints. It is a huge accolade to be recognised by one’s peers in such a way.”

Raising the much coveted silver RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy in Grenada © Arthur Daniel

Jeremy Waitt commented on the win and the keys that have unlocked the success: “When you look down the list of previous winners it’s incredible to have Jangada as part of that dynasty of yachts. The whole Jangada team, both ashore and afloat, is very proud to be part of this success.

“Success takes patience and time; for us the real effort has been the last 10 years, both with Jangada Too (J/109) and now with Jangada (JPK 10.10). We have systematically worked our way through our approach and left no aspect unturned to find what it takes to win races consistently at this level. We have been lucky to have some great sailors aboard to coach and feedback about our methodologies and this continues to help us gain the incremental margins.”

Jangada is planning to come back racing next year in the 2021 RORC Season’s Points Championship, including the Rolex Fastnet Race.

RORC Yacht of the Year
2009-2020 winners - Somerset Memorial Trophy

2020      Jangada, JPK 10.10, Richard Palmer
2019      Wizard, Volvo 70, Peter and David Askew
2018     Ichi Ban, TP52, Matt Allen
2017     Lisa, First 44.7 , Nick & Suzi Jones (skippered by Michael Boyd)
2016     Teasing Machine, A13, Eric de Turckheim
2015     Azzam, Volvo Ocean 65, skippered by Ian Walker (Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team)
2014    Antix, Ker 39, Anthony O'Leary
2013     Courrier Vintage, MC34 Patton, Sam Marsaudon & Géry Trentesaux
2012     Diablo-J, J/105, Nick Martin
2011     RÁN, JV 72, Niklas Zennström
2010     Tonnerre de Breskens 3, Ker 46, Piet Vroon
2009     Puma Logic, Reflex 38, (skippered by Philippe Falle)