After two wet and windy days, the sunshine finally broke on day three at British Classic Week for Race 3, the female-helm race sponsored by Raymarine.
Following the Concours d’Elegance parade, consisting of the whole fleet in procession past the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS), it was time to get racing underway.
After a morning of light winds, the breeze filled in from the west and the fleet started on the outer RYS line in 12 knots. Sailing upwind to the west with the last of the westerly running tide, all classes sailed the same 8.8nm course.
From the RYS line, the fleet tacked up the first leg, ensuring they passed Gurnard to port, racing to Boss. As the first yachts reached Boss and rounded the mark to port the tide had slackened allowing for a straight-forward leg across to MDL Marinas.
The faster yachts suffered in patchy wind on the approach to the mark, whereas the slower boats benefitted from the building breeze and latterly faster tide on the run into the line.
Rounding MDL Marinas to port, spinnakers were hoisted for the downwind leg with the tide to East Lepe. Passing East Lepe to starboard, the fleet looked spectacular with spinnakers decorating the horizon in the sunshine as they sailed downwind to the RYS line.
First female helm went to Birgit Brandes on the 8mR Anne Sophie from Germany, second was Victoria Theaker on Stella Timoa and third was Gretel Scott helming Fife-designed Clyde Linear Cutter Mikado.
A day of champagne sailing was rounded off with dockside drinks from Raymarine, followed by the Classic Boat Pontoon Party with drinks from Hattiers Rum and Dartmouth Gin.
