The 20th British Classic Week continued with class racing around the cans sponsored by OneSails GBR on day three of the regatta.
All classes started on the Royal Yacht Squadron inner line to the east against the tide. The forecast started as predicted with 15-18 knots from the south west as Classes 1 and 2 set off on the upwind leg to Kemp’s Quay.
From Kemp’s Quay to port, spinnakers were hoisted for the downwind leg with the tide to North Ryde Middle. With the mark out of the water on a barge for maintenance, Classes 1 and 2 rounded the barge to port and set off upwind to Mother Bank in 13-15 knots from the south west.
Rounding Mother Bank to starboard, Classes 1 and 2 raced downwind in the sunshine to Goodall Roofing. Hot work for the foredeck crew as kites were packed in the by now sweltering conditions on the upwind leg to Peel Bank.
Rounding Peel Bank to starboard, the yachts set off on what they thought was their third downwind leg. By now, the wind had dropped to 3-5 knots and the Solent started to look like a millpond, before a light breeze swung round and filled in from the north east for the (now) upwind leg to Royal Thames. From Royal Thames it was a last-minute dash across to Snowden in the Medina River estuary before a short run in the re-established south westerly to finish on the RYS line.
Classes 3 and 4 experienced a similar pattern of events on their course from the start to South East Ryde Middle. Rounding the mark to port, it was a champagne sail downwind to YachtDataBank and an upwind leg back up to Quarr, just off Wooton Creek. Round Quarr to starboard the downwind leg breeze died and swung round to the north east for the upwind leg to West Ryde Middle, before the wind direction changed again to make it a run into the finish on the RYS line.
John Parker from OneSails GBR (East) said, “This is my fifteenth British Classic Week, and it continues to be one of the highlights of my sailing calendar. I really enjoy the relaxed, social vibe combined with the Corinthian style racing amongst a fleet of such well-maintained classic yachts.”
On corrected time, Sean McMillan’s Spirit 52 Flight of Ufford won Class 1, Laurent Giles designed Whooper won Class 2, Stiletto made it three wins from three races in Class 3, and Stella Timoa took first in Class 4.
