Rough Cut Racing reign supreme

Rough Cut Racing won the first ever Match Races held in the UK on Plymouth Sound this afternoon to claim pole position in their P1 Panther 28SS for Sunday’s first points-scoring P1 SuperStock Championship race.

Yorkshire-based driver  Ian Brusby drove a perfectly controlled race over two legs to defeatPeters & May Racing driven by experienced crew Robert McCarthy/Nic Surrey. Winning in Plymouth is a complete contrast to Rough Cut Racing’s troubled debut in Jersey last month, where Brusby and navigator Dan Whapples struggled.

“It’s a great feeling to come here and win after having a lot of boat problems in Jersey”, Ian said. “But I’m glad we only had one heat, a semi and a final as by the end of the second leg my arms were really tired with all the turning you have to do on the tight match racing course.”

Rough Cut Racing now lines up in pole position for the first of tomorrow’s two championship rounds and Ian believes top slot on the starting grid could prove vital in his quest for a big points haul. “The start run goes down to a very tight turn one and who ever can make it though from the 16-strong field will have the advantage of clean water. Getting an early break could really help us to finish on the podium”.

Peters & May driver McCarthy thoroughly enjoyed his first experience of intense toe-to-toe match racing. “I really enjoyed the runs and was delighted to get into the final. And it’s really good news we’ll start next to Rough Cut in second place in the first race tomorrow.”

Shelley Jory-Leigh’s Helvetia Wealth boat made it through to the semi final, but she and navigator Dan Smith were just edged out by Peters & May Racing. In the other semi-final Rough Cut Racing defeated the much fancied Edox Swiss Watches boat of 2010 SuperStock champion Rupert Pugh, navigated by Tony Crossley.