The Solent sunshine didn’t disappoint on day one at British Classic Week 2021 as regatta entrants gathered at Cowes Yacht Haven ahead of the first day’s racing.
Above: One-off long keel classic sloop Lak II
After the day’s briefing with Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) Race Officer Dai Prichard, and before any racing got underway, the fleet of classic sail and motor yachts headed out on the water for the traditional Concours d’Elegance. Now a mainstay of the regatta, the parade sees the yachts cruise past the Royal Yacht Squadron in class sequence, with a blast of the cannon denoting the first yacht in each class. Crews onboard ‘tip their caps’ to Race Officer Dai Prichard on the shore as they pass.
Above: classic yawl Infanta tipping their caps in the Concours d’Elegance
With the formalities complete, yachts headed back in to wait for the wind to make an appearance. After a short postponement, the AP flags came down and Classes 1-4 headed out for the scheduled round the cans race.
Each class started on the RYS line in approx. 5knots of fickle breeze from the west. A dead-downwind, spinnaker start with the tide turned into a reach as the yachts crossed the Solent in choppy waters in the shadow of the world’s largest square-rigged sailing ship, the Golden Horizon.
Above: ketch Stormvogel crossing behind Golden Horizon
Spinnakers were dropped on the approach to the first mark (40 for Classes 1 and 2, and 41 for Classes 3 and 4). Rounding the mark to starboard, the yachts headed up into the wind across the Solent to mark 43. The changeable wind began to lose its strength and Classes 1 and 2 found themselves in a hole on the approach to the mark. As a result, Classes 3 and 4 crept up from behind and the fleet was in close quarters rounding the mark to starboard. The tacticians were tested as they read the wind shifts and eased their way to tack around the mark.
With the wind shifting constantly, some yachts chose to sail further up the Island side whilst others set off upwind straight across the Solent towards 4W (for Classes 1 and 2) and 4Y (Classes 3 and 4). The wind gods finally delivered on the final leg to the RYS line and crews took to the windward rail as bow waves splashed across the Solent.
Above: Spirit 52 Happy Forever crossing the finish line in front of the RYS
Upon arriving back at Cowes Yacht Haven, regatta guests were treated to complimentary cold Adnams Kobold lagers delivered direct to their yachts.
Above: enjoying the Adnams Kobold lagers
British Classic Week 2019 regatta overall winner, Giovanni Belgrano commented, “Today was awesome. The yachts were well sailed in tricky conditions. The race committee did a fantastic job; they made all the right calls.”
Giovanni continued, “It’s fantastic to be back at British Classic Week, we are so grateful to be back here, with our friends and crew, and to see the other beautiful boats. Even without a title sponsor, the regatta is still a class act. To have cold beers brought to you on the boat after racing; it really doesn’t get better than that!”
Spirit 37 Strega won Class 1, Class 2 was won by 8mR Helen, Clyde Linear 30 Mikado took Class 3 and West Solent One Design Suvretta triumphed in Class 4.
