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Sunbeam

Sunbeam

The Solent Sunbeam - a classic keelboat with great performance

Few of today's one design classes are as long-lived or as successful as the Sunbeam, still racing hard after ninety-five years. Solent Sunbeams enjoy close competitive racing in Chichester harbour and in the Solent.

The key attributes of a Solent Sunbeam:

  • A classic keelboat, the largest of the Alfred Westmacott designs, the Solent Sunbeams at Itchenor range from 95 years of age to new all-GRP and newly epoxied yachts, yet all racing on level terms.
  • Highly competitive regular racing in a one-design fleet with no restrictions for tides on most weekends and Thursday evenings from March to October.
  • Beautiful lines with great handling across the whole wind spectrum.
  • Often just one crew member needed in boats that are suited to both men and women.
  • A well-organised crew/helm request system as well as training sessions and a welcoming attitude to new sailors.
  • Annual racing at Cowes Classic Week and Cowes Week with passage races
  • Sheltered moorings in beautiful Chichester harbour.
  • Great camaraderie and community spirit in the Class and Club with many social events.

© Kelmar Photo © Kelmar Photo
Show news Cowes Week 2025 day 6
Breeze and competition ramps up
Posted on 7 Aug Youth Day at Cowes Week gallery from Ingrid Abery
Photos from Wednesday's racing in the Solent
Posted on 7 Aug Cowes Week 2025 day 5
Flying Jenny wins the Britannia Cup
Posted on 6 Aug Ladies Day at Cowes Week gallery from Tom Hicks
Cowes was at its very best on Tuesday after storm Floris had passed through
Posted on 6 Aug Cowes Week 2025 day 4
Racing women and mini-series winners
Posted on 5 Aug Ladies Day at Cowes Week gallery from Ingrid Abery
Capturing the crews on the Solent
Posted on 5 Aug Cowes Week 2025 Day 3
Weekend warriors and inspiring figures
Posted on 4 Aug Cowes Week 2025 Day 2
Tight racing, big waves and family fun
Posted on 3 Aug Cowes Week 2025 Day 1
Light winds, building breeze and spectacular racing
Posted on 2 Aug Cowes Week 2025: The countdown to race time begins
Anticipation is building for one of the world's most iconic regattas
Posted on 30 Jul Save the Date - Cowes Classics Regatta 2026
The dates now confirmed after a highly successful 2025 event
Posted on 5 Jun Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 overall
Building breeze and sea state create a spectacular conclusion
Posted on 1 Jun Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Day 2
Fog lifts on the Solent to reveal the front-runner
Posted on 31 May Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Day 1
Perfect Solent Conditions
Posted on 31 May Cowes Classics Regatta countdown is on
A week away, and late entries are coming in thick and fast across all divisions
Posted on 23 May Entries open for Cowes Classics Regatta
NoR published - see you there at the end of May
Posted on 24 Apr Cowes Classics free classic car and boat display
Entries now open for car owners for 1st June event
Posted on 5 Apr Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 Preview
The relaunch of an iconic regatta with a new format
Posted on 13 Feb Entries open for Cowes Week
199th edition of the world's biggest annual keelboat regatta
Posted on 17 Jan Glorious Race Weeks
Bumper participation is an indicator for the health of sailing
Posted on 3 Sep 2024 2024 Bosham Regatta
107 boats racing on Saturday 24th August
Posted on 29 Aug 2024 Falmouth Celebrates a Century of Sunbeams
Some fine old ladies of the sea have been celebrating their 100th birthdays
Posted on 12 Aug 2024 The oldest footage of Cowes Week
A look back into the depths of our video archive
Posted on 4 Aug 2024 Cowes Week Day 7: A classic finale
Downwind finish against the tide on the Royal Yacht Squadron line
Posted on 3 Aug 2024 Cowes Week Day 6
Close racing and clear winners
Posted on 1 Aug 2024 Cowes Week Day 5
Gladiator wins Britannia Cup
Posted on 31 Jul 2024 Cowes Week Day 4
The short series has now concluded, with nine of the 12 scheduled races completed
Posted on 30 Jul 2024 Cowes Week Day 3
Sun, spectacle and tight finishes
Posted on 29 Jul 2024 Cowes Week Day 2
Families rise to the fore
Posted on 28 Jul 2024 Cowes Week Day 1
Sun, sea breezes and thrilling competition
Posted on 27 Jul 2024
Links

Photos

Show photos from

Day 6 - Cowes Week 2025
© Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com Day 5 - Cowes Week 2025
© Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com Sunbeam fleet on Day 2 of Cowes Week 2025
© Martin Augustus / www.sailingimages.co.uk Sunbeam fleet on Day 2 of Cowes Week 2025
© Martin Augustus / www.sailingimages.co.uk Sunbeam fleet on Day 2 of Cowes Week 2025
© Martin Augustus / www.sailingimages.co.uk Sunbeam fleet on Day 2 of Cowes Week 2025
© Martin Augustus / www.sailingimages.co.uk Sunbeam fleet on Day 2 of Cowes Week 2025
© Martin Augustus / www.sailingimages.co.uk 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour Sunbeam V19 Audry leads the during the 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 2024 Sunbeam Open Centenary Championship
© Miles Carden / Falmouth Harbour 16th Cowes Classics Week
© Tim Jeffreys Photography 16th Cowes Classics Week
© Tim Jeffreys Photography New Solent Sunbeam launched in centenary year
© Harriet Patterson New Solent Sunbeam launched in centenary year
© Gayle Palmer New Solent Sunbeam launched in centenary year
© Gayle Palmer Day 7 of Cowes Week 2023
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Day 5 of Cowes Week 2023
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Day 5 of Cowes Week 2023
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Day 5 of Cowes Week 2023
© Ingrid Abery / www.ingridabery.com Sunbeam Centenary Regatta at Itchenor
© Kirsty Bang Sunbeam Centenary Regatta at Itchenor
© Kirsty Bang Sunbeam Centenary Regatta at Itchenor
© Kirsty Bang Sunbeam Centenary Regatta at Itchenor
© Kirsty Bang
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