This year’s British Classic Week, hosted by British Classic Yacht Club in Cowes, was won by Robert Clark designed Bermudan sloop Cereste.
Above: overall regatta winners Cereste
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, British Classic Week attracted 50 classic sailing and motor yachts for a week of sailing, cruising, and socialising in the Solent. Yachts ranged from 19.6m Spirit 65 modern classic Chloe Giselle down to the smallest yacht in the fleet, a 7.7m folkboat named Folkdance sailed by a double-handed crew.
Above: Robert Clark 10 tonner Cereste, helmed by owner Jonathan Dyke
Winner of Class 4 and the regatta overall, Jonathan Dyke (owner of Cereste), commented, “It was a truly memorable week of great sailing and dockside parties, a fantastic celebration of an eclectic fleet of beautifully maintained classic yachts. As always at British Classic Week our fellow yachts were extremely well sailed, and we had some tough competition on the water. We will be back next year!”
The fleet of sailing yachts competed in a six-race series overseen by the Royal Yacht Squadron. The week comprised three round the cans races, two passage races and a female-helmed inshore race. With weather conditions ranging from very light breeze earlier in the week up to 20+ knots on the final day, the racing was hard fought, and the overall results reflected the level of competitiveness and sailing talent on the water.
Above: Fife gaff cutter Viola
Class 1 was won by Sean McMillan in his Spirit 52 Flight of Ufford, only 1 point ahead of Christian Oldendorff’s Happy Forever. Equally competitive was Class 2, which was narrowly won by Louise Morton in her Andre Mauric sloop Lak II. With four wins in class to her name, Stiletto triumphed in Class 3.
Above: all smiles onboard Lak II
One of the smallest yachts in the fleet, Stella Timoa, won both the Spirit Yachts Nab Tower and the Classic Boat Long Inshore races.
Hot off the heels of the Fife Regatta in Scotland, the beautiful gaff cutter Viola returned to British Classic Week from her home in France to win the Je Ne Sais Quoi trophy overall.
Above: Stella Timoa
The skipper of Viola commented, “A heart-warming welcome, great organisation, and fantastic sailing in the Solent.”
The social scene was as lively as the action on the water, with Suffolk based brewery Adnams providing post-racing Kobold beers for the fleet and daily champagne for the race winners. Hattiers Rum and Dartmouth Gin proved popular with competitors in delivering drinks direct to yachts as they crossed the finish line of the long inshore race. Tuesday’s Pontoon Party sponsored by Classic Boat with live music and dockside drinks from Hattiers Rum and Dartmouth Gin was once again a highlight of the week.
Above: Dartmouth Gin drinks drop on the finish line
Further event support came from Suffolk Yacht Harbour and traditional chandlery Classic Marine. OneSails GBR and Global Forecaster both sponsored a day’s racing each. Tall Ships Youth Trust returned as the regatta’s charity partner to raise awareness and funds for its work to support disadvantaged and disabled young people across the UK.
Above: relaxing on the dock at Cowes Yacht Haven
British Classic Week will be back next year from 15th - 22nd July 2023.
