Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Charles Stanley Cowes Classics Week - Day 3

by Marina Johnson 13 Jul 2016 12:07 PDT 11-15 July 2016

Day two of the points series for the Cowes Classics Week classes got underway today in lighter breezes with some course-changing shifts which made and lost race positions. A tactic of heading up the left hand side of the beat on the windward-leeward course for the 50-strong XOD fleet put Ben Childerley's X2 Palassie into a convincing lead giving him the win of the morning, but in the afternoon when trying the same tactic, aided by crew and father Stuart, they and the rest of the competitors were caught out by a 30 degree windshift turning the fleet inside out, putting them into a frustrating 31st finishing position, despite Bob Milner's committee boat changing the course half way through the second race to account for it.

Once again it was down to the four committee boats spread across the north shore of the Solent to the east of Cowes to set windward leeward courses, laying on two or in some cases three races for each class. All classes were racing for Haines Boatyard Glasses, including the classic cruisers and gaffers who raced separately to the one-designs, from the fixed line of the organising Royal London Yacht Club.

Of these, the Classic Cruisers, including a number of vintage S&S Swans jostled on a combined start line with two eye-catching Tofinous, modern sleek yachts incorporating 1930s original design - Ted Fort's Tofinou 9.5 Pippa and Caroline Aisher's Tofinou 8 Lennie. Desperado, Richard Loftus's 1977 Swan 65 ketch and the largest yacht in the fleet led around the Solent course to win today, beating Andrew Pearson's Bojar into second place.

Conditions gave the gaffers a leisurely downwind start eastwards, also starting from the Royal London line, in two classes on 10 and 12 mile courses. The Silver (slower) Gaffers class had a shortened course as the wind failed but all were able to finish. Victory went to David Pennison's Sepia and in the faster White fleet to Roy Hart's Greensleeves although Hal Sisk's Peggy Bawn at 116 years old, the oldest yacht in the fleet leads after two races.

Back on the north shore meanwhile, on their own dedicated committee boat race course, the two-crew Tempests were racing on the second day of their 2016 World Championships. Having lost Monday due to high winds Race Officer Gill Smith was keen to get things back on schedule. After three races today, she achieved that, with six races now in the bag. Like the XODs they suffered from the windshift in the third race which turned the run for these trapeze keelboats into an exciting reach. "It was not quite what I intended," she said "but the fleet enjoyed the racing nonetheless." Klaus Wende was pleased to be back with Ramadama after being holed yesterday – he had managed to get an overnight repair done, but it was Frank Weigelt in Holzwurm who continued to lead the international fleet after six races.

Six and Eight Metres shared a start for their two windward leeward courses, and the smaller Six, Sioma held onto a lead in her second race beating both Eights to the first windward mark. However, the real battles – in conditions well suited to Metre yachts - were between the two Eight Metres K33 Helen and K36 Athena. Christopher Courage's Helen scored two firsts today but yesterday it was Athena owned by David Parson and the Earl of Cork and Orrery, who scored the same two wins, so they lie neck and neck after four races, sparring closely with each other on the race course. The two leading Sixes, Tom Richardson's Thistle and Fenton Buroin's Sioma are similarly positioned having each claimed two firsts and two seconds.

The Solent Sunbeams, meanwhile, have made their annual pilgrimage from Itchenor Sailing Club where the one-design fleet, designed in 1923, races very competitively in largely restored and optimised boats. Roger Wickens in Danny has three firsts and a fourth under his belt so far to take the lead after four races.

Christine Graves, racing National Swallow Gwaihir said "It was a typical Cowes day. Conditions were so changeable and on our second race, on a Solent marks course we looked like we were going well, then would find ourselves down the pan." The Solent marks courses – as opposed to the windward leewards – have more challenges in that respect and sharing their course with the Flying Fifteens Gwaihir witnessed one making several attempts to get around a mark in the light winds and strong tides. But as Christine said "It was a lot of fun and all part of the excitement."

Racing is organised by the Royal London Yacht Club with support from Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Cowes, Island Sailing Club and Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club.

This year's event charity is the Miss Isle School of Sip & Puff Sailing – a unique sailing and training experience for physically disabled individuals who want to go sailing but aren't able to sail a conventional boat. The charity is the brainchild of teenager Natasha Lambert, who has cerebral palsy herself, yet has already sailed around the Isle of Wight, up to the Thames, crossed the Channel, sailed over five hundred miles to Wales, and many other adventures.

The Organisers are grateful to all the sponsors.

Cowes Classics Week future dates: 17 to 21 July 2017.

www.cowesclassicsweek.org

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
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERSwitch One DesignPredictWind - GO! exec 728x90 BOTTOM