In Advance Half Ton Classics Cup
Royal Yacht Club Nieuwpoort, 5 – 9 August ’24
Local knowledge – great talent
On Friday morning, the last racing day of the 2024 Half Ton Classics Cup, the committee cancelled the final short inshore as at sea the wind peaked over 30 knots, transforming the North Sea into a giant washing machine. So after the morning briefing all teams gathered around Tom Florizoone and his crew to congratulate the strong local team.
Red Cloud (a Joubert designed halftonner from 1980) is declared overall winner of an eventful In Advance Half Ton Classics Cup, the 14th since the revival edition of 2003 and the 5th in Nieuwpoort at the Royal Yacht Club Nieuwpoort.
Looking ahead
At the start of the 3rd and last race on Wednesday team Red Cloud was seconds too soon over the line and as this coastal race was started under black flag after numerous general recalls, the team immediately sailed back to port considering their options.
After the race, the Belgians convinced the Jury to give a ‘redress’, however this was turned into a bigger penalty the morning after when the Jury reversed its decision into a more appropriate penalty. This mishap didn’t stop the Red Cloud crew from taking the lead at the start of the 35-mile long inshore sailed on Thursday. Tom Florizoone & team would not relinquish that leadership. The course led around six buoys in a wide bend around the sandbanks west of Nieuwpoort.
But the fluctuations in wind strength and direction didn’t make it any easier as the wind threatened to disrupt the stage (from 10 to 2 knots and then back to 20 knots and more). Finally the course was shortened.
Shortly after Red Cloud it was Secrets (Christopher Agar) finished in second place, determined to get the most out of these long battles between Ostend and the French border. Unfortunately due to the heavier handicap, she ended up in a tie for third place with the Norwegians on board The Evil (NOR 66666). Irish contender Harmony (John Swan) placed between the winner and this double third place.
Jacques Lemaire and his young crew kept Waverider up to speed all along Thursday’s long inshore and finished again as the best Vintage class halftonner.
Jeremy Florizoone: turning a problem into a solution
Engineer Jeremy Florizoone, son of team skipper Tom, not only helms Red Cloud, he is also the hub of the team driving this boat. Project management is his profession, finding solutions for complex processes.
Jeremy Florizoone: “The boat is from 1980 and is in excellent condition, although technically we can’t match some of the foreign top boats. But it’s the team that took us to victory. We know each other for years. We sometimes sail together, sometimes on other boats. I know their abilities and I know that they give everything. Some of us also sail regularly J/80 on a high level and travel to all the major international championships for that. I also sail European and World Championships myself. That experience comes in handy here, especially at the start. Of course, a good start is of enormous importance as is the knowledge of the local currents. That’s a huge advantage that we have.”
Honorary Award – Diversity Award – Winner’s Award
Tom Florizoone and team won more than just one trophy. Of course, he lifts the coveted Half Ton Classics Cup trophy as the overall winner. After his final speech Baudouin Meyhui, commodore of the KYCN, presented him with both a special award from Wind en Watersport Vlaanderen – Flemish sailing federation- for his enormous commitment to yachting far beyond Nieuwpoort as well as a well-merited large wooden crate with a giant bottle, the contents of which leaves nothing to the imagination.
That’s the spirit
The most important trophy, according to Bert Janssen of the Half Ton Class Europe, goes to the crew that most conveys the spirit of this exceptional class. This year the winner came from Boulogne-sur-Mer (France) with a production built and tomato red Super Arlequin from 1971, with the sweet name of Douce Folie II. They struggled to stay away from last place, were not discouraged because the finish was closed while they were still sailing and the skipper, Christan Ratel, gave an impassioned farewell speech.
Philippe Pilate, Chairman of the Half Ton Class Europe emphasized that women in sports deserve all the attention. For this Half Ton Classics Cup the Class not only facilitated an extra ranking for female teams (i.e. teams with 50% or more female sailors) won by the Georg Nissen designed A+, helmed by Ann Callens, they also invited an official Charity to join the event: Sailing For Think Pink and their commitment to raise funds for research into breast cancer.
The charity teamed up with the A+ team for this occasion, but also is preparing a Belgian ‘all female’ boat for the next 2025 Fastnet Race. And last but not least the Class inaugurated a collaboration with enterprising women in yachting industry: Solène Saclier of Sailiz (technical sailing clothing exclusively for women) and Justine Robeets of Bleu Marine Dunkirk, shipyard, yachting dealer and retailer.
What’s next?
At the awards ceremony, Quokka skipper Peter Rutter announced that the next Half Ton Classics Cup will be hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club in early August 2025. The club promises “fine sailing waters, lots of sunshine, little current and waves and plenty of social events.”
In Advance Half Ton Classics Cup – Long Inshore Ranking
1: Red Cloud / Tom Florizoone / BEL 8500
2: Harmony / John Swan / IRL 1484
3: Secrets / Christopher Agar / GBR 5395
In Advance Half Ton Classics Cup – overall ranking after 7 races
1: Red Cloud / Tom Florizoone / BEL 8500 / 2.2 | 1.0 | (4.0) | 4.0 | 4.0 | (34.1) BFD | 1.5 = 12.7
2: King One / Espen Kamperhaug / NOR 18094 / (3.3) | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | (5.5) | 9.0 = 17
3: Harmony / John Swan / IRL 1484 / (12.1) TLE | 5.0 | (6.0) | 1.0 | 5.0 | A 3.3 | 3.0 = 17.3
Vintage class : Waverider / Jacques Lemaire / BEL 3486 /
Production boats: Hullabaloo XV / David Evans / GBR 108 /
Female class: A+ / Ann Callens / BEL 5678
In Advance Half Ton Classics Cup 24
Event website
https://halftonclassicscup.com/
The day to day results:
https://www.manage2sail.com/en-BE/event/04e1e40a-fce9-4cca-ad44-6bc3563e92a8#!/results?classId=HTC –
Copyright Free Images In Advance Half Ton Classics Cup 24
Hi Res photos Long Inshore https://photos.app.goo.gl/fvMPT8cP8rDB8yxe9
Hi Res photos day 4 windward leeward – short inshore https://photos.app.goo.gl/m4zR8i4cSsaKJEAr8
Video: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1262rB847-qvfeoy8GFcZhl6gqETObWqu
On Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@half.ton.class?_t=8ocrgHBUu6i&_r=1
On YouTube: https://youtube.com/@halftonclasstv9728?si=arhSJ7cq3iIDTXsw
Only for publication with editorial pieces about the Half Ton Classics Cup ® and/or the Half Ton Classics Class Europe ® and non-commercial context.
Photos by Pit De Jonge
Seldén Half Ton Classics Cup 2026 