Day four at British Classic Week brought perfect sailing conditions for the long inshore races sponsored by OneSails GBR.
Leaving the dock, the yachts set out from Cowes Yacht Haven in sunshine, 10-12 knots from the east, and almost flat waters. Classes 1, 2, and 3 started together with Classes 1 and 2 on the outer RYS line and Class 3 on the inner line. The first leg saw a long beat against the tide to Ancasta. Tacking around the mark to starboard, Classes 1, 2, and 3 sailed east across the Solent to NE Ryde Middle.
Beginning a series of windward leeward legs, the yachts rounded NE Ryde Middle to port and hoisted spinnakers to sail downwind with the tide to East Bramble. Dropping spinnakers and taking East Bramble to starboard, the course took them back upwind to Browndown.
Rounding Browndown to starboard it was a short reach south to SE Ryde Middle. At this point, Classes 1 and 2 sailed downwind with the west going tide to N Ryde Middle, whilst Class 3 sailed a shorter downwind leg passing Little Ship Club to starboard and on to Royal Thames. From there, it was a reach for Class 3 to Prince Consort to starboard and on to finish at the RYS line. Classes 1 and 2 sailed from N Ryde Middle back upwind to Little Ship Club, before the final downwind leg to Royal Thames and a reach across to Prince Consort to starboard and over the RYS line to finish.
Sailing a shorter course, Class 4 started on the inner RYS line beating upwind against the tide to Haven Knox Johnston. Some of Class 4 opted for the shorter route towards the mainland shore and others chose to hug the island side to stay out of the oncoming tide before sailing north to the mark.
Rounding Haven Knox Johnston to port, spinnakers were hoisted for the downwind leg to William in Southampton Water. Dropping spinnakers and heading up around William to port, Class 4 sailed south on a reach to Contessa 32.
Rounding Contessa 32 to starboard, Class 4 reach back up to hamblewinterseries.com in Southampton Water to round the mark to port. From there it was another reach south to Ben F Wood and on to Prince Consort and the RYS line.
Spirit R52 Happy Forever beat rival Spirit C72 Gwenhyfar II in Class 1 by just 45 seconds leaving the class win all to play for between these two yachts on the final day of the regatta. In Class 2, 8mR Anne Sophie took her second win in two days. S&S sloop Sunstone also took her second win of the week to set up a final day clash with Giovanni Belgrano’s Whooper. In Class 4, Sioma II made it two wins from four races this week.
A fantastic day’s racing was rounded off by dockside drinks from Pantaenius Yacht Insurance and a dockside party for West Solent One Design Suvretta’s 100th anniversary.
