The 20th British Classic Week hosted by British Classic Yacht Club kicked off today with champagne sailing in the Solent.
With 10-12knots of wind from the S/E, the race committee at the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) set two separate courses, which saw Classes 1 and 2 set off on a 17nm course around the cans, with Classes 3 and 4 sailing a separate 12nm course.
All class starts set off from the RYS inner line heading east with the flooding tide. As the wind funnelled down the Solent from the east it whipped up the sea state resulting in very choppy conditions and a wet ride for the crews on the rail.
Once over the line, Classes 1 and 2 raced upwind with the tide to SE Ryde Middle. Rounding the mark to port, poles were set, and spinnakers were hoisted for the downwind leg to Goodall Roofing. Then it was back upwind to Mother Bank. With the tide slackening off and the sea state calming, Classes 1 and 2 reached across the Solent to round Ancasta to port and downwind to South Bramble.
From South Bramble, the course took them back upwind in the consistent breeze to South Ryde Middle. Rounding the mark to starboard, the yachts hoisted their spinnakers for a third and final time for the run with the tide down to the Royal Yacht Squadron and the finish.
Meanwhile, Classes 3 and 4 raced a similar but shorter course from the RYS line upwind to Peel Bank. With Osborne House (Queen Victoria’s former holiday home) in the background, the yachts rounded Peel Bank to port. Spinnakers were hoisted in beautiful sunshine as the yachts sailed downwind to gybe around Yacht Data Bank to port and continue to RORC. Taking RORC to port, Classes 3 and 4 sailed back upwind to Collette, before the final downwind leg to RYS.
BCYC Commodore Jonathan Dyke commented, “We couldn’t have asked for a better day. Great course setting, fantastic conditions; it was a brilliant start to the regatta.”
Spirit 52 Happy Forever won Class 1, racing sloop Crusade took Class 2, Stiletto won Class 3 and Robert Clarke 10 Tonner Cereste placed first in Class 4.
Back on the dock at Cowes Yacht Haven, the yachts were treated to cold Adnams Kobold beers as they relaxed and shared tales from the race course.
