Royal Southampton Yacht Club

ROUND THE ISLAND

In June, Ran also claimed the JP Morgan asset Management Round the Island Race top prize, the Roman Gold Bowl for the overall IRC handicap winner,

Owner, Nicklass Zennstrom, who lives in London, is a passionate sailor and enjoys offshore racing with his wife as well as skiing. He was on board during Saturday’s racing.

Michael Ford

The Hamble based 52ft TP Ran, owned by Swedish born IT entrepreneur Nicklass Zennstrom, is the winner of the Royal Southampton’s coveted Queen’s Cup, the top trophy in the first day’s racing at Skandia Cowes Week.

The trophy goes to the winner of Class Zero in the first day’s racing of the Cowes regatta and although Ran was not the fastest boat of the day, handicap dropped Andy Soriano's Mills 68 Alegre down the results table, to give TP52s a 1-2-3 finish.

"It was a great course because there is a good competitive pack of TP52 racing and it was testing for all of us. It is fantastic to win," said Ran team manager Bob Swann who was missing many of his regular crew to the Copa del Rey regatta in Majorca. But Ran will be racing in Cowes throughout the week.

“We want to build a full on professional team but we want to enjoy our time on the water,” said Bob.

Driven on Saturday by Stuart Childerley, Ran was placed second throughout the entire course.

"It sets the mark for the rest of the week and it shows that all our training is paying off. Our confidence is right up there now."

Ran, designed by Reichel Pugh was built last year, and already the team have a new 72 ft yacht being built at Green Marine which should be ready by January.

The Queen’s Cup, first presented to the Royal Southampton, in 1897 by Queen Victoria to celebrate her diamond jubilee year, is traditionally awarded as the top honour for the first day’s racing at Skandia Cowes Week.

The trophy will be awarded at the club’s presentation evening at Ocean Village on December 13.