Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

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

Zhik Microfleece™ Performance Shorts
Engineered for Warm Water Performance Developed through years of working with Olympic and World Champion sailors, the new Microfleece™ Performance Shorts are made for high-output days on the water. Posted today at 5:00 am
2025 Etchells North American Championship Preview
Racing set to Kick Off Friday May 16th in San Diego San Diego Yacht Club welcomes 39 teams competing in the 2025 Etchells North American Championships - a 3-day regatta May 16-18. Posted on 15 May
Dragon Worlds at Vilamoura day 4
Leaderboard shake-up Day 4 of the Dragon World Championship by Tivoli Hotels & Resorts delivered picture-perfect "Champagne sailing" conditions, thrilling spectators and teams alike just 3 nautical miles off the coast of Vilamoura. Posted on 15 May
44Cup Porto Cervo day 1
Five boats within two points after light opening day The RC44s once again demonstrated their versatility on day one of the 44Cup Porto Cervo. Two races were held successfully for the nimble owner-driver one designs in light conditions in which other keelboat classes would have struggled. Posted on 15 May
Formula Kite Europeans in Urla day 2
Medalist comes back - others face gold fleet cut It was moving day on the Bay of Urla for some who chipped away at the top three while some leaders faltered and others straddled the gold fleet cut. Posted on 15 May
New Versatile Training Dinghy Launches in the UK
The FD Future is the perfect platform GP Watercraft is excited to announce a new partnership with FD Yachts to bring the uniquely versatile training dinghy, the FD Future, to the UK market. Posted on 15 May
Technical report on Gunga Din & Alliance sinkings
Bermuda Race Organizing Committee, US Sailing, and Cruising Club of America release technical report BROC partnered with US Sailing and the Cruising Club of America to release a detailed investigative report titled "Report on the Sinkings of the Sailing Vessels Gunga Din and Alliance During the 2024 Newport-Bermuda Race." Posted on 15 May
ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's Worlds day 4
Wind yet to arrive, fog prevails Heavy fog returned from the south, choking off what little wind remained. At 11:17 a.m., AP over H was hoisted. The fleet was towed back to shore once again, for yet another stretch of waiting. Posted on 15 May
Naples to host 2027 America's Cup
The fight for the Auld Mug will take place under the watchful shadow of Mt Vesuvius The Government of Italy, in conjunction with Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, are pleased to announce Italy as the Host Country and Naples as the Host City for the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup to be held in 2027. Posted on 15 May
Coutts gives some advice to ageing pro teams
Coutts sounds a warning to the 12 teams to refresh their talent and upskill younger sailors Speaking with Stevie Morrison at the SailGP Technologies facility in Southampton, UK, Coutts sounds a warning to the 12 teams to refresh their talent, upskill younger sailors, and bring them into the SailGP teams. Posted on 15 May
Rooster 2025Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca 2025PredictWind - Routing 728x90 BOTTOM