Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Cherub class win Spitfire Premium Ale Concours dElegance

by Mark Jardine 6 Mar 2011 07:14 PST 5 March 2011
David Townshend awards the Spitfire Premium Ale Concours d’Elegance trophy to Cherub sailor Simon Jones at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show © Tom Gruitt / Yachts and Yachting

The 2011 Spitfire Premium Ale Concours d’Elegance award, sponsored by Shepherd Neame has been won the Cherub class. ‘Eleanor’ owned by Dean Relph and Simon Jones was the stand-out boat on display and impressed the judges most.

Eleanor’s crew Simon Jones said: “We were completely astounded when we were presented with the trophy on our stand. With so many great looking boats on show we were gob-smacked when ours was chosen as the Concours d’Elegance winner. We’re very pleased for the Cherub class – it really helps raise the profile and is great when we’re celebrating our 60th year.”

The Cherub ‘Eleanor’ was launched in August 2010, just before the national championships and achieved ninth place overall on her first outing. The winter months gave time to re-position and optimise fittings and Dean and Simon are looking forward to the 2011 season, starting with a training event at Queen Mary next weekend. The boat’s finish is a metallic pepper grey which they had sprayed at a local car body shop.

David Townshend of Shepherd Neame was highly impressed with overall standard: “It’s now our third year of sponsoring the Spitfire Premium Ale Concours d’Elegance award and I think the boats on show were the best I’ve seen. The varnish finish on the wooden boats was exceptional and some of the modern carbon boats are works of art. It was also great to see all the exhibitors enjoying a well-earned drink at the show party afterwards.”

Paul Bayliss, Show Manager at the RYA said, “It was great to see a modern boat win, joining the traditional winners of previous years and the icing on the cake for the class on their 60th anniversary.”

The judging panel was made up of David Townshend (Shepherd Neame), Paul Bayliss (RYA) and Mark Jardine (YachtsandYachting.com). The panel were highly impressed with the overall standard of boats and in the end had a short-list of five boats (Cherub, Fireball, International 14, International Moth & Solo) with which to choose a winner from.

Related Articles

Crew dynamics will be decisive in Course des Caps
Just two days to go before the start of the first race of the eagerly-awaited 2025 IMOCA season With just two days to go before the start of the first race of the eagerly-awaited 2025 IMOCA season, all eyes are on Boulogne-Sur-Mer as 11 crews prepare to race around the British Isles in the Course des Caps-Boulogne sur Mer-Banque Populaire du Nord. Posted today at 7:02 pm
2025 Marion to Bermuda Race concludes
Celebrating the remarkable seamanship and sportsmanship of every team After days of strategic sailing, shifting winds, and open-ocean challenges, the results are in—and we're proud to celebrate the remarkable seamanship and sportsmanship of every team that took part. Posted today at 6:49 pm
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 2
Linnea Aurora turns the tables as it gets tight at the top A bigger and better breeze welcomed the racing fleet on the second day of the Superyacht Cup Palma 2025, resulting in full-tilt sailing around the 23nm five-leg racecourse. Posted today at 6:16 pm
CYCS 2025 Tiedemann Classics Regatta preview
Bringing together some of the most beautiful yachts on the water The Classic Yacht Owners Association's annual Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) kicks off a summer of stunning northeastern sailing with the 2025 Tiedemann Classics Regatta this weekend. Posted today at 5:39 pm
Kieler Woche Day 8
Mourniac & Retornaz take the lead in the Nacra 17 class A dream day ahead of the second weekend at the Kieler Woche regatta off Schilksee: Moderate to fresh westerly winds with strong gusts, alternating sun and clouds, provided ideal sailing conditions for all participants on Friday. Posted today at 5:18 pm
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 2
Spanish team Yupi top the leaderboard Friday was the second day of racing in Torbole for the inaugural J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship. Although the "Ora" breeze was lighter than yesterday, it didn't disappoint; it blew steadily enough to deliver three fair, fun and hard-fought races. Posted today at 4:58 pm
SailGP: Roger Federer inspires Swiss SailGP team.
Roger Federer joins forces with Switzerland SailGP Team to inspire success One of Switzerland's greatest sporting icons, Roger Federer, features in the newest episode of Racing on the Edge, SailGP's official behind-the-scenes docuseries, produced in partnership with Rolex. Posted today at 4:26 pm
44Cup Marstrand 2025 day 3
Gale force winds batter the west coast of Sweden With gale force winds battering the west coast of Sweden, racing had to be cancelled on day three of the 44Cup Marstrand. Posted today at 1:33 pm
Francesca Clapcich to co-skipper Team Malizia
In the Course des Caps round Britain & Ireland Race Italian/American offshore sailor Francesca Clapcich will join Malizia-Seaexplorer as co-skipper for the inaugural edition of the Course des Caps-Boulogne sur Mer - Banque Populaire du Nord. Posted today at 12:56 pm
Team Be Water Positive The Ocean Race Europe crew
Scott Shawyer will skipper Team Be Water Positive in the fully crewed offshore challenge this summer Canada Ocean Racing - Team Be Water Positive today announces its 2025 The Ocean Race Europe crew led by Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer and featuring five other accomplished names in offshore sailing. Posted today at 11:54 am
Vaikobi 2024 DecemberLloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px BOTTOMRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER