Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 December

Sleeping Tiger wakes to win Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show

by Mark Jardine 26 Feb 2022 08:17 PST 26 February 2022
Glen Truswell's International Canoe wins the Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2022 © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

It's a new beginning for the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show, being held for the first time at Farnborough International, and there is certainly a buzz of excitement in the air. The exhibition hall is packed with visitors, with colour everywhere you look as dinghy associations show off their class of boat, attracting new members as the boating boom continues.

For the judging of the Concours d'Elegance Mark Jardine, Editor of YachtsandYachting.com, was joined this year by British Sailing Team ILCA 7 and WASZP sailor Sam Whaley, and they spent most of the morning admiring the incredible display of boats. The attention to detail shown by so many classes made finding a winner especially difficult, but Glen Truswell's International Canoe took top honours, thanks to detailing which was simply breath-taking.

This makes Glen the first two-time winner of the trophy, after his International 14 'Scrumpet' won in 2016.

Glen said, on winning the award, "I'm absolutely amazed, delighted and flattered that you feel the boat has reached that standard. Thanks to all my friends in the International Canoe class that helped guide me through the process of joining the class and figuring out how to build a quick boat with assistance and guidance."

Coming in a close second was the 1964 Merlin Rocket 'Hullabaloo'. The varnish finish on this 60-year-old classic was beautiful, and the modern additions, such as carbon spars, were sympathetically added with minimal control lines compared to a modern Merlin.

In joint third place were two boats from opposite ends of the spectrum. Both Phil Hodgkins' GP14 and Kyle Stoneham's International Moth were stunningly presented, and even though the two designs were so different Sam and Mark were unable to separate them.

Of particular note this year are some of the paint jobs and boat graphics, which have again stepped up a gear, with a combination of techniques employed, including within the gelcoat, vinyl boat wraps, metallic paints, and cool stickers.

Mark Jardine said after the award was presented, "What a show! Everyone was on tenterhooks with the move to the new venue as to what it would be like, and the sense of anticipation was palpable. To see so many people flood into the halls was fantastic, and for them to be able to see sailing in its best light, with some stunning dinghies on display, was a joy. The classes aren't making our role as judges easy with the quality of boats, but that's such a good problem to have!"

Sam Whaley added, "It took a bit longer than we first anticipated! It's amazing when you take a look around at all the dinghies and you get lost in that world, chatting to every man and their dog, but it was great to see all the boats and we had some amazing candidates when we were deciding this year's winner."

The Concours d'Elegance has now been awarded for 14 years and has recognised a diverse range of boats, from classics with impeccable varnish finishes, to the latest in high tech sailing. Take a look at all winners of the prestigious trophy below.

Previous Concours d'Elegance Winners:

Related Articles

The oldest video footage of sailing in Ireland
A look back into our video archive, from 1926 to 1980 As we prepare for St Patrick's Day tomorrow, let us direct our exploration of the video archive towards anything Irish. We have discovered several videos from Ireland, starting as early as the 1920s! Posted on 16 Mar
A windy Possession Point Race
Some thoughts on the 2025 Possession Point Race Mea Culpa: I didn't take any pictures on Saturday's Possession Point Race. That's because both of my hands were either busy either dealing with foredeck duties or holding on tight to the lifelines of Jonathan and Libby McKee's Riptide 44, Dark Star. Posted on 11 Mar
Two boats. Same Direction.
You know the deal… It means there's a race on. You know the deal… It means there's a race on. So, the second South Pacific Superyacht Rendezvous is set for August 26 to 29, 2025. If it is even half as much fun and interesting as the first one, then it will bolster its burgeoning reputation. Posted on 9 Mar
The 600 Sweet Spot
The world of offshore racing is booming around the world The world of offshore racing is booming around the world. Record entries, some of the world's fastest yachts and highest profile campaigns, and a plethora of Corinthian teams have the 'classics' on their bucket list. Posted on 4 Mar
Foggy sailing on Puget Sound
East Coast fog and West Coast whales The biennial Marblehead to Halifax Race, which celebrates its 40th edition this summer, is a 361 nautical mile race that's often characterized by light upwind sailing in fog. Last Saturday on Puget Sound felt like a return to these storied waters. Posted on 4 Mar
Inaugural Fast Women's Switch Training Camp
Some of the best sailors in the world gathered in Thailand The first ever Fast Women's Switch Training Camp took place at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Thailand, attracting some of the best sailors in the world, fresh from competing in the Australia Sail Grand Prix. Posted on 4 Mar
Point of difference - Pacifica 44
Take me away. Far, far away. OK. Here's the Pacifica 44, which is perfect for the job. 3000nm. Boom. There's your unique selling proposition, right there. Real range. Reliable passage making times/distances at 10 knots as your base marker and unbelievable autonomy means the Pacifica 44 harnesses the absolute best a sailing vessel can offer. Posted on 27 Feb
Mini Globe Race, Caribbean 600, Cole Brauer
McIntyre Mini Globe Race begins, Caribbean 600, Cole Brauer There's an old saw that goes something like this: Thou shall not sail offshore on a yacht with less waterline, as measured in feet, than thou has in years. Posted on 25 Feb
Battle for the Bar
The unofficial name for the Capel Sound Invitational, from the stellar waters and the drinks By their own admission, this is the unofficial name for the Capel Sound Invitational. Yes, it pays reference to the location where they serve drinks, but it is also for the stretch of water it is named after. Posted on 24 Feb
Tongue Twister Triumphs
Albacore wins Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show The Concours d'Elegance for the boat of the show has been won by Matt Thompson's Albacore 'Uffa Fox Sake' after judges Mark Jardine, joined this year by the voice of SailGP, Stevie Morrison, spent an enjoyable morning perusing every boat on display. Posted on 23 Feb
PredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOMMySail 2025Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTER