Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

New classes celebrate their 50th anniversary

by David Elliott 9 Jan 2015 07:32 PST 15]19 July 2013
Tempest nationals at Carsington © Mike Shaw / www.fotoboat.com

Cowes Classics Week has an eligibility policy with a rolling 50 year design date. This means that three new classes become eligible in 2015 and are preparing to celebrate their anniversary with us.

Tempest: designed by Ian Proctor for the 1965 trials for the new Olympic Keelboat used alongside the Star in 1972 in which the British won the Silver Medal and as the two-handed keelboat in 1976. The Tempest is unusual for a keelboat in having a trapeze and can reach remarkable speeds.

Soling: designed by Jan Linge of Norway in 1965 based on ideas that emerged while tank testing a 5.5mR for the 1960 Olympics, ideas which were outside the 5.5mR rules. The Soling was selected as the men's triple-handed boat for the 1972 Olympics in selection trails at which it was the only survivor in heavy conditions at Kiel and remained an Olympic class until 2000.

Contessa 26: designed by Jeremy Rogers and heavily influenced by David Sadler and the Folkboat to produce a 25.6ft fibreglass boat that proved to be a very successful racer and capable of long-distance, blue-water cruising.

In addition, other new classes that will join us in 2015 are...

Star: designed in 1910 by Francis Sweisguth—draftsman for William Gardner's Naval Architect office and has been an Olympic class since1932 until 2012 - it will not compete in 2016. They will wear their artist-designed sails - Fine Arts Sails have produced a set of sails with designs by renowned artists and are coordinating events for the class in support of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.

Royal Burnham One Design: designed by Norman Dallimore in 1932, the RBOD is similar in hull profile to the Alfred Westmacott designed XOD. Continuing our ambition to get together one-design classes from around the country as they are not well set up for travelling, CSCCW will be assisting with bringing some of the boats to Cowes.

Cruisers (non-Spinnaker): a new class that will appeal to those not so well set up for racing.

And, we are assured by the class associations of increased turnouts from XOD (the largest class that should reach 60 boats), Sunbeam and Daring (both of which have more boats in action than ever before as boats are restored, recovered or built/rebuilt) and 6mR (one of the most iconic classes ever).

The Preliminary Notice of Race 2015 has been published - go to the web site to view: www.cowesclassicsweek.org

Related Articles

McIntyre Mini Madness solo around the world!
Orcas, Head Wounds & 144-mile days: Mini Globe Race's most dramatic leg yet The McIntyre Mini Globe Race is a marathon by any measure. Every section is like another solo transatlantic race and there are 11 back to back! The racing is intense for the front runners. It's not a cruise. Posted today at 7:36 pm
Superyacht Safety Comes Into Focus
As Monitoring Tech Booms The weather is changing, and it's not just a sailor's hunch. Storms are forming faster and are more destructive. Onboard sailing superyachts, captains and crews are facing new challenges in predicting risk, and the message is clear. Posted today at 6:00 pm
Switch Global Championships about to begin!
A fleet of 60 boats from 14 nations are taking part at Fraglia Vela Malcesine From September 11 to 14, the first international event for the brand-new Switch class will take place — a class that, in just one year, has seen astonishing growth. Posted today at 5:59 pm
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 1 Day 4
Jules Delpech first at Needles Fairway, Alexis Loison leading the fleet After a lightning-fast Channel crossing this morning, the Figaro sailors have been kept busy with a succession of maneuvers and mark roundings. Posted today at 5:50 pm
Snipe Europeans 2025 at Vilamoura, Portugal Day 2
Perfect sailing conditions for the fleet The second day of racing at the Snipe Europeans in Vilamoura could not have been better. Sailors enjoyed two back-to-back races under ideal conditions, with winds ranging from 240 to 250 degrees and steady breezes of 10 to 15 knots across the racecourse. Posted today at 5:37 pm
Pantaenius Yacht Racing Image Award 2025
Submission of images open until 12 October The world's leading photography competition dedicated to the sport of sailing is now open. You have one month left to submit your best image, taken since 14 October 2024. Posted today at 5:00 pm
4th ORC Double-Handed Worlds opening day
Heavy rain, poor visibility, and unstable winds forced organisers to cancel the Short Offshore Race The opening race of the ORC Double-Handed Worlds 2025, hosted by YC Monfalcone in collaboration with the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) and held at Marina Monfalcone, was abandoned today due to severe weather conditions in the Northern Adriatic. Posted today at 4:17 pm
Big Weather Gear appointed by Henri-Lloyd in USA
A high-profile return to the US market with its new retail partner Henri-Lloyd will be making a high-profile return to the US market with the appointment of Big Weather Gear as its new retail partner. Posted today at 2:25 pm
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Day 4
Fast speeds and high stakes in thundery conditions as the fleet approaches Sicily After two days of predominantly light wind sailing and slow progress for the fleet, the top four teams - Paprec Arkéa (FRA), Biotherm (FRA), Allagrande Mapei (ITA), and Team Malizia (GER) - were the first to experience a low pressure weather system. Posted today at 2:18 pm
SailGP launches new rudders
And unveils further innovations ahead of Saint-Tropez event SailGP has today announced significant steps forward in technological innovation and fleet capability, with the launch of new rudders and plans for automated foil-protection software specifically for high speed, highly-loaded maneuvers. Posted today at 2:08 pm
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMV-DRY-X