British Classic Week

Day three at British Classic Week in Cowes brought the annual Concours d’Elegance parade and the female and youth (under 25yrs) helm race sponsored by Marineware and Awlgrip.

It was a beautiful day in Cowes for the third day of racing for the 51 classic and modern classic yachts at British Classic Week. Following the traditional parade in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the female and youth helm race began in a pursuit format in 18 knots of wind from the west.

The yacht with the lowest handicap in the fleet, 1961 long keel sloop Allegra del Mar, was the first yacht to set off, followed 63 minutes later by the final yacht to start, Spirit C72 Gwenhyfar II and the race was on.

Beating with the tide to the west, the fleet sailed to East Lepe, rounded the mark to port and carried on tacking up the Solent – hunting down the yacht in front – to Newton East.

Broad reaching across the tide with spinnakers up, dropping as they rounded Craftinsure to port, the yachts set off on a long beat up in fair tide to Draycott Chartered Surveyors.

Seventeen year old Ruby Sunderland, helming Spirit R52 Flight of Durgan commented, “It was a really good race. It was different because the boat has a wheel rather than a tiller, so that was a new experience for me, but she is such a nice boat to steer. The downwinds were fun, we were right in shore. It was very interesting race as we were just getting closer to everyone as the race went on – it was a great day.”

Rounding Draycott Chartered Surveyors to starboard, it was a big bear away and spinnakers up to begin the long downwind leg via Zwerver and Powder Byrne. With a race finish time set for 1600 and the tide against the fleet, it was still all to play for in the last 30 minutes of the race. As the final third of the fleet approached Power Byrne against the tide, time was called on the race and positions were taken.

John Parker of OneSails GBR, racing on Spirit R52 Flight of Durgan, commented, “It was rare in a conventional yacht race that you spend time with so many yachts around you, and this made it a unique racing environment. We had yachts of different sizes, classes, and handicaps around us for the whole race, it made for a fantastic spectacle on a beautifully sunny day in the Solent.”

Back on the down, sundowners were served courtesy of Marineware and Awlgrip as the crews prepared their yachts for the evening’s Pontoon Party sponsored by Classic Boat magazine.

The second smallest yacht in the fleet, Stella Timoa helmed by Victoria Theaker took the overall win. Class 1 was won by Spirit R52 Flight of Durgan, staysail schooner Viveka won Class 2, Swan 36 Scherzo took Class 3, Claire Locke on West Solent One Design Enchanted took her third class win of the week in Class 4, and Timoa won Class 5.

For results go to www.britishclassicweek.co.uk

by Helen Porter