Charles Stanley Cowes Classics Week – Record XOD turnout on day 1

by Cowes Classics Week on 29 Jul 2015 Today’s opener of the series races of Charles Stanley Cowes Classics Week 2015 could not have been in greater contrast to yesterday’s one-off and somewhat drizzly warm up race for the Trinity Cup, when the four-day event got off to a flying start in brisk winds and sunshine.

The Winkworth and Royal Victoria Race Day offered truly champagne sailing conditions to the five one design classes and the other classic handicap divisions today, all of whom qualified for the event as a design that was introduced before 1970.

The XOD class was clearly keen to get away on the first start, resulting in a general recall, but a U-flag ensured a clean second start and the fleet split wide as they beat upwind to the first mark. As the fleet closed in Michael O’Donnell’s Lightwood X64, emerged as the frontrunner, with Paul Woodman’s Ibex, X32 snapping close at her heels. Several fell foul of the tide, hitting the first mark which cost them valuable places. Ibex managed to overhaul Lightwood to take a first in the first race, with O’Donnell settling for second place. In the second race of the day, the pair swopped places and now sit in joint first place. Stuart Jardine, who won yesterday’s Trinity Cup XOD Race, didn’t manage to repeat his performance today, settling for a 15th overall today, and seven places behind twin brother Ado.

Michael O’Donnell has only sailed two seasons in the XOD. He said “We got a really good start in the first race which helped, but had to fight our way back from a bad start in the second. Our tactician Steve Lawrence is a magician! And the boat is still 45kg overweight!”

Conditions suited the XODs perfectly on their committee boat windward leeward courses. Steady winds of around 16 knots provided some lively sailing in the fleet which goes from strength to strength, this week standing at 60 entries, up by 10 from last year.

Classes were divided between four separate committee boats which were spread throughout the eastern Solent to give each group plenty of room for their predominantly windward leeward courses. Further to the east of the XODs the Solent Sunbeams, whose fleet makes its annual crossing from Itchenor Sailing Club to the event, were establishing a firm pecking order, with the first three places going to the same yachts in each of the two races. Cathy Burnie’s Fleury won both races, with the two seconds going to Roger Wickens’ Danny and the two-thirds to Tim Hill’s Query.

Two elegant classes, the Darings and the six metres shared a race course further to the south-east. The six metres, six of whom were back after a gap of several years, were dominated by Fenton Burgin in Sioma who took both the day’s races. The wind topped 20 knots by the middle of the day, pushing the sixes hard in the second race, heeled well over pressed by their huge overlapping genoas.

Bobcat was a welcome addition to the six-metre fleet. Only a week ago the yacht was being repaired in Holland following a collision, but owner Andrew Webster completed the work and trucked her to the Solent just in time for the event.

The Squibs made a special one day only appearance at the Cowes Classics. Easily spotted by their brown sails and small spinnakers, the class was dominated by Roly Wilson in Bachante VIII with three firsts, and Acrobat helmed by S Warren-Smith with three seconds. Eyes were also on a trio of 15-year-old brothers, indeed triplets, Charlie, Harry and Tom White, which raced Alice into a highly respectable eighth place.

It was John Deacon’s day on the Bembridge One Designs with two firsts as well.

With just one race per day in their programme, the historic Old Gaffers enjoyed a mid-Solent round the cans race. “The course suited us perfectly”, says co-owner Tim Redburn, of the fully restored Beeleigh, which is 102 years old. “Gaffers are not known for their upwind sailing, and some great fetching legs were ideal for the design.”

Many other vintage yachts including the Nicholson 32s, SCODs and Twisters are also taking part in the event in two Classic Cruisers divisions while the Flying Fifteens and Swallows are competing in the Classic Dayboats class.

The Classic Cruisers use the KLR Formula handicapping system which originated in Germany in 1994 and is favoured by traditional cruising yachts.

The plan is to get a series of eight races in between now and Friday when the event finishes. Racing continues tomorrow (Wednesday).

Results

Rank	Class	Boat	Sail No.	Helm/Owner	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	Total	Nett
1st	XOD Class	Ibex	X 32	Paul Woodman	2.0	1.0	8.0	6.0	12.0	4.0	(23.0)	3.0	59.0	36.0
2nd	XOD Class	Foxglove	X 174	Alastair Ashford	8.0	7.0	4.0	1.0	4.0	7.0	(10.0)	6.0	47.0	37.0
3rd	XOD Class	Lightwood	X 64	Michael O'Donnell & John Tremlett (R7)	1.0	2.0	3.0	13.0	(28.0)	20.0	5.0	2.0	74.0	46.0
4th	XOD Class	Leading Wind	X 108	Hamish Calder	13.0	(27.0)	10.0	5.0	2.0	6.0	7.0	4.0	74.0	47.0
5th	XOD Class	Lucrezia	X 140	Adrian Jardine	12.0	5.0	(31.0)	3.0	6.0	1.0	17.0	12.0	87.0	56.0
6th	XOD Class	Madeleine	X 58	Kim Slater	5.0	14.0	5.0	14.0	7.0	12.0	6.0	(58.0 BFD)	121.0	63.0
7th	XOD Class	Astralita	X 91	Michael Martell	6.0	4.0	18.0	2.0	(26.0)	3.0	14.0	20.0	93.0	67.0
8th	XOD Class	Red Coral	X 57	Roy & Nick Froud & Ed Coates	14.0	9.0	13.0	10.0	(24.0)	8.0	2.0	15.0	95.0	71.0
9th	XOD Class	Swallow	X 166	Simon Russell	(21.0)	15.0	9.0	12.0	5.0	5.0	12.0	16.0	95.0	74.0
10th	XOD Class	Lone Star	X 119	Stuart Jardine	(26.0)	11.0	24.0	7.0	16.0	2.0	11.0	5.0	102.0	76.0
11th	XOD Class	Gleam	X 156	James Meaninjg	4.0	3.0	19.0	(28.0)	14.0	16.0	19.0	7.0	110.0	82.0
12th	XOD Class	Zephyr	X 73	Jonathan Clark	10.0	10.0	2.0	4.0	(32.0)	23.0	18.0	24.0	123.0	91.0
13th	XOD Class	Relaxation	X 177	John Long	(25.0)	19.0	15.0	25.0	9.0	10.0	9.0	9.0	121.0	96.0
14th	XOD Class	Mayday	X 161	David Da Cunha	23.0	16.0	12.0	20.0	13.0	11.0	(30.0)	11.0	136.0	106.0
15th	XOD Class	Princess Jalina	X 188	David Palmer	9.0	8.0	16.0	11.0	18.0	24.0	22.0	(27.0)	135.0	108.0
16th	XOD Class	Xcitation	X 50	Roger Yeoman	3.0	31.0	11.0	9.0	1.0	58.0 DNS	(59.0 DNC)	1.0	173.0	114.0
17th	XOD Class	Falconet	X 55	Alan Perry	16.0	(58.0 RET)	17.0	8.0	21.0	13.0	29.0	10.0	172.0	114.0
18th	XOD Class	Clair De Lune	X 33	Jeremy Baker & Max Crowe	24.0	(32.0)	20.0	18.0	17.0	14.0	1.0	22.0	148.0	116.0
19th	XOD Class	HeyDay	X 173	Gillian Clark	17.0	(43.0)	6.0	15.0	22.0	27.0	8.0	23.0	161.0	118.0
20th	XOD Class	Seamist	X 83	John Claxon	11.0	24.0	26.0	27.0	10.0	17.0	4.0	(58.0 BFD)	177.0	119.0
21st	XOD Class	Westwind	X 4	Freddie Davies	19.0	18.0	22.0	19.0	11.0	22.0	(37.0)	8.0	156.0	119.0
22nd	XOD Class	Skiffle	X 143	John Edmonds	20.0	17.0	14.0	22.0	(39.0)	32.0	15.0	13.0	172.0	133.0
23rd	XOD Class	Xin Bai	X 99	Andrew Cooper	(33.0)	13.0	29.0	16.0	23.0	19.0	20.0	14.0	167.0	134.0
24th	XOD Class	La Mouette	X 144	Dorian Stoodley	(28.0)	12.0	27.0	24.0	27.0	18.0	13.0	25.0	174.0	146.0
25th	XOD Class	Thora	X 101	David Priscott & Ted Roose	15.0	23.0	21.0	23.0	(29.0)	29.0	16.0	21.0	177.0	148.0
26th	XOD Class	Myrtle	X 76	Cordelia Ellis	31.0	20.0	(32.0)	21.0	15.0	31.0	26.0	26.0	202.0	170.0
27th	XOD Class	Rachel	X 127	Penelope Fulford	29.0	25.0	34.0	17.0	(37.0)	28.0	21.0	18.0	209.0	172.0
28th	XOD Class	Madcap	X 5	Chris Torrens	22.0	(34.0)	25.0	34.0	30.0	21.0	32.0	17.0	215.0	181.0
29th	XOD Class	Julia	X 42	Stephen Whiteman	27.0	28.0	40.0	35.0	8.0	26.0	24.0	(59.0 DNC)	247.0	188.0
30th	XOD Class	Sunshine	X 77	Peter Nicholson	37.0	30.0	23.0	30.0	31.0	15.0	39.0	(59.0 DNC)	264.0	205.0
31st	XOD Class	Onyx	X 189	Timothy Cath	(42.0)	36.0	35.0	29.0	19.0	38.0	36.0	19.0	254.0	212.0
32nd	XOD Class	Tortoise	X 165	Mike Condliffe	32.0	22.0	33.0	33.0	36.0	(45.0)	31.0	30.0	262.0	217.0
33rd	XOD Class	Lass	X 80	Jeremy Lear	(59.0 DNC)	59.0 DNC	30.0	59.0 DNC	3.0	9.0	3.0	59.0 DNC	281.0	222.0
34th	XOD Class	Jinx	X 89	Mark Dobson	41.0	44.0	43.0	(58.0 DNF)	20.0	30.0	25.0	28.0	289.0	231.0
35th	XOD Class	Delight	X 75	Mike Till	30.0	26.0	37.0	39.0	35.0	36.0	44.0	(59.0 DNC)	306.0	247.0
36th	XOD Class	Waverley	X 190	Ben Few Brown	36.0	21.0	28.0	(58.0 RET)	41.0	25.0	41.0	58.0 BFD	308.0	250.0
37th	XOD Class	Satu	X 21	Andy Hamlett	40.0	37.0	39.0	26.0	43.0	34.0	34.0	(58.0 DNF)	311.0	253.0
38th	XOD Class	Mersa	X 34	James Markby	7.0	6.0	7.0	(59.0 DNC)	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	315.0	256.0
39th	XOD Class	Vanity	X 47	Stephen Marsh	34.0	42.0	38.0	36.0	44.0	35.0	28.0	(59.0 DNC)	316.0	257.0
40th	XOD Class	Xanadu	X 151	Jasper Bardon	39.0	38.0	41.0	(58.0 RET)	45.0	33.0	33.0	29.0	316.0	258.0
41st	XOD Class	Anitra	X 52	Paul Kelsey	38.0	33.0	36.0	32.0	(59.0 DNC)	39.0	27.0	59.0 DNC	323.0	264.0
42nd	XOD Class	Perdix	X 169	John Shaw	47.0	35.0	42.0	37.0	(48.0)	41.0	43.0	31.0	324.0	276.0
43rd	XOD Class	Veronique	X 65	Michael McNish	35.0	40.0	58.0 DNF	41.0	33.0	40.0	38.0	(59.0 DNC)	344.0	285.0
44th	XOD Class	Thalia	X 116	Philip Chowienczyk	46.0	41.0	45.0	38.0	40.0	43.0	35.0	(59.0 DNC)	347.0	288.0
45th	XOD Class	Senex	X 7	Richard Simpson	49.0	(59.0 DNC)	44.0	31.0	25.0	47.0	45.0	59.0 DNC	359.0	300.0
46th	XOD Class	Waxwing	X 98	Christopher Stannard	52.0	45.0	46.0	(58.0 DNS)	42.0	44.0	46.0	32.0	365.0	307.0
47th	XOD Class	Sandpiper	X 106	John Doree	53.0	46.0	48.0	42.0	46.0	42.0	(58.0 DNF)	33.0	368.0	310.0
48th	XOD Class	Drover	X 154	Ashley Hatton	(58.0 DNF)	48.0	47.0	43.0	49.0	49.0	40.0	34.0	368.0	310.0
49th	XOD Class	It	X 10	John Butt	48.0	47.0	58.0 DNF	40.0	38.0	37.0	42.0	(59.0 DNC)	369.0	310.0
50th	XOD Class	Sirena	X 94	Neil Payne	18.0	58.0 DNF	1.0	58.0 DNF	(59.0 DNC)	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	371.0	312.0
51st	XOD Class	Dolphin	X 36	Thomas Rogers	45.0	29.0	58.0 DNS	(59.0 DNC)	34.0	48.0	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	391.0	332.0
52nd	XOD Class	Morena	X 120	Brian Harding	54.0	50.0	58.0 DNF	(59.0 DNC)	50.0	50.0	47.0	59.0 DNC	427.0	368.0
53rd	XOD Class	Mischief	X 13	Diana Wilson	43.0	39.0	(59.0 DNC)	58.0 DNS	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	435.0	376.0
54th	XOD Class	Onward	X 30	Frits Janssen	51.0	58.0 DNS	(59.0 DNC)	59.0 DNC	47.0	46.0	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	438.0	379.0
55th	XOD Class	Judy	X 191	Bill Mallam	50.0	49.0	49.0	(59.0 DNC)	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	443.0	384.0
56th	XOD Class	Eve	X 122	Nicholas China	44.0	51.0	58.0 DNF	58.0 DNF	(59.0 DNC)	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	447.0	388.0
57th	XOD Class	Frivol	X 31	Reg White	(59.0 DNC)	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	59.0 DNC	472.0	413.0