METRE YACHTS TRIUMPH AT BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK 2024

It was a week of two halves in terms of the weather at this year’s British Classic Week hosted by the British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC), but when the results were in it was 6mR Sioma (small yacht winner) and 8mR Anne Sophie (large yacht winner) who took home the overall regatta trophies. 

Large yacht of the week and Class 2 winner 8mR Anne Sophie

Two days of wet and wild racing in the early part of the regatta preceded lighter airs and champagne sailing to complete the five-race series with race management by Race Officer Peter Saxton and his team from the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS).

Regatta Chairman Giovanni Belgrano commented, “It was an awesome week and some of the best sailing I have had in my life.  The race management team did an exceptional job giving us five varied races in challenging conditions.  The camaraderie and socialising on the dock matched the racing, it was fantastic to see everyone making friends and sharing their beautiful yachts.”

Following a feeder race from the Royal Solent Yacht Club’s Taittinger Regatta and a welcome BBQ at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, racing kicked off on day one with the Forts Race sponsored by Spirit Yachts.  In the evening, regatta guests enjoyed drinks and canapés at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Day 2 brought 1.5m+ waves and 25 knots of wind, so the scheduled Around the Island race was replaced by passage racing in the Solent, sponsored by Global Forecaster.  Once back on the dock, wet and weary sailors were greeted with cold beers from Bainbridge International.

By day 3, high pressure delivered sunshine and light winds as day broke for the Female Helm Race sponsored by Raymarine.  Following the traditional Concours d’Elegance Parade past the RYS, all classes set off on a fleet start for the 8.8nm course in the western Solent.  Once ashore, the party started with post-racing drinks from Raymarine followed by the infamous Classic Boat Pontoon Party with drinks from Hattiers Rum and Dartmouth Gin.

The good weather continued into day 4, which brought champagne sailing conditions for the Long Inshore Race sponsored by OneSails GBR, followed by a Nyetimber sparkling wine bar on the dock by Pantaenius Yacht Insurance.  

Results from Race 4 meant Spirit R52 Happy Forever beat rival Spirit C72 Gwenhyfar II by just 45 seconds leaving the Class 1 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 for second and third places.  In Class 4, Sioma II made it two wins from four races across the week.

After a final day’s close racing in light winds from a committee boat start, the results were in.  Overall class wins after some closely contested racing went to Spirit R52 Happy Forever in Class 1, 8mR Anne Sophie in Class 2, S&S Swan 36 Anna Mai in Class 3, and 6mR Sioma in Class 4. 

Having sailed hard in the big winds in the early part of the week and then dominating in the light breeze in the second half of the regatta, it was the Metre yachts that triumphed overall with 8mR Anne Sophie from Germany winning the regatta’s Large Yacht of the Week and 6mR Sioma winning Small Yacht of the Week.

At the end of the week Birgit Brandes from 8mR Anne Sophie said, “Thank you for the warm welcome, the wonderful racing, the perfect organisation, and of course the prizes!”

Dates for next year’s British Classic Week are 6th – 11th July 2025.

Full list of 2024 winners below.

Je Ne Sais Quoi prizes:

Class 1: Crusade

Class 2: Anne Sophie

Class 3: Sunstone & Whooper

Class 4: Sabrina

Gaffers: Snippet

Motor Boat: Maudorces

Overall Je Ne Sais Quoi winner: Harlequin

In Need of a Stiff Drink Trophy donated by Spirit Yachts: Crusade (for an engine fire onboard)

Best Presented New Entrant, Per Ardua ad Mare trophy: Sheevra

Forts Race sponsored by Spirit Yachts: Classes 1 & 2 overall winner: Happy Forever

West Solent passage race sponsored by Global Forecaster: Gwenhyfar II

Female Helm race sponsored by Raymarine:

Class 1: Gwenhyfar II

Class 2: Anne Sophie

Class 3: Anna Mai

Class 4: Timoa

Gaffer: Dorothy

Overall Female Helm Winner: Anne Sophie

Long Inshore Race sponsored by OneSails GBR:

Class 4 and Gaffers: Sioma II

Class 3: Sunstone

Classes 1 & 2: Anne Sophie

Highest % female crew: Quailo III

Youngest crew member: Florence Spooner on Snippet (13yrs)

Highest % family crew: Arctic Skua

Overall Class winners:

Class 1:

3rd: Crusade

2nd: Gwenhyfar II

1st: Happy Forever

Class 2:

3rd: Helen

2nd: Cetewayo

1st: Anne Sophie

Class 3:

3rd: Whooper

2nd: Sunstone

1st: Anna Mai

Class 4:

3rd: Timoa

2nd: Enchanted

1st: Sioma

Highest Placed Gaffer: Eilun

Highest Placed Spirit overall: Happy Forever

Small Yacht of the Week: Sioma

Large Yacht of the Week: Anne Sophie

ROUND THE CANS IN LIGHT WINDS ON DAY 5 AT BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK

With light airs forecast on day five, Royal Yacht Squadron Race Officer Peter Saxton changed the scheduled Pursuit Race to round the cans racing from a committee boat start to maximise the breeze in the eastern Solent. 

In Peter Saxton’s words at the morning briefing, he would aim to deliver “good racing or no racing”.  Fortunately for the yachts, it ended up being good racing to complete the five-race series.

Sponsored by Marineware and Awlgrip, Race 5 saw class starts for Classes 1 and 2 (combined), Class 3, and Class 4 in 8knots of wind from the east with tide running to the west.

Classes 1 and 2 set off from the committee boat line to the east, passing East Bramble to starboard and sailing inshore to get out of the tide (whilst keeping an eye on the depth).  Tacking upwind to NE Ryde Middle, the yachts bore away around the mark, hoisting spinnakers and dropping jibs for the downwind leg with the tide to pass Little Ship Club to starboard and on to Goodall Roofing.

Gybing round Goodall Roofing to starboard, spinnakers were dropped on the approach to Royal Thames.  Taking into account the strong westerly running tide, it was a reach south to Prince Consort and a short final downwind leg into the RYS line to finish the 7.5nm course.

Classes 3 and 4 sailed a similar but slightly shorter course (6.4nm and 5nm respectively).  Class 3 sailed upwind following Classes 1 and 2, passing East Bramble to starboard.  At Little Ship Club, Class 3 hoisted spinnakers for the start of their downwind leg with the tide, passing Goodall Roofing to starboard and on to Royal Thames.  Rounding Royal Thames to port, Class 3 reached across to Prince Consort to starboard and on to the RYS line.

In a similar theme to the preceding classes, Class 4 set off from the committee boat line to pass East Bramble to starboard and bearing away round N Ryde Middle to hoist spinnakers for the downwind leg.  Passing Goodall Roofing to starboard, Class 4 headed up towards Royal Thames before a reach back across to Prince Consort and on to the RYS line.

With several classes closely contested throughout the week Friday’s racing delivered some fantastic sailing.

In Class 1, Happy Forever took their third win of the week, Class 2 was won by the beautifully sailed 8mR Anne Sophie from Germany.  Some tight racing in Class 3 saw Bermudan sloop Illiria take her first win of the week, and Class 4 was won by the 6mR Simoa.

LONG INSHORE RACING ON DAY 4 AT BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK

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.

CHAMPAGNE SAILING FOR FEMALE-HELM RACE AT BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK

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.

A FIESTY DAY ON THE WATER: DAY 2 AT BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK

Day 2 of British Classic Week began with ominous grey clouds, 1.5m+ swell, and 25+ knots.  Taking the conditions into account, Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) Race Officer Peter Saxton made the decision to adapt the scheduled Around the Island Race into long passage races in the comparative shelter of the Solent.

The day’s racing, sponsored by Global Forecaster, kicked off with a combined start for Classes 1, 2, and 3 on the RYS line.  Sailing upwind with the last of the westerly going tide, the fleet battled wind against tide conditions on the long beat tacking up to Embley School in front of Hurst Castle.

As the yachts rounded Hurst to port, hoisted spinnakers and dropped jibs, the tide was turning to take them towards the island shore and Charles Stanley.  Leaving the Charles Stanley to port, the yachts gybed and sailed across the Solent to Powder Byrne on the mainland side.  Continuing the zig-zag down the Solent, crews were kept on their toes with another gybe around Elephant Boatyard to port. 

By now, in the easterly wind and tide, the sea state had calmed significantly, and the sun was beginning to peak out from behind the grey clouds.  Gybing around Elephant Boatyard to port it was a reach up to Royal Cork on the mainland coast before a gybe and a long run down the middle of the Solent to NE Ryde Middle.  From there, it was a short reach northeast to Browndown and a tight reach up to Royal Yacht Squadron for the penultimate leg.  Rounding Royal Yacht Squadron to port, the yachts beat against the tide back up to finish the 31nm course on the RYS line.

Keeping the smaller yachts out of the strong wind against tide conditions, the race committee ran a slightly later start for Classes 4 and 5, keeping their race area to the east of Cowes.

Starting on the RYS line to the east, Classes 4 and 5 sailed a 17nm course.  Starting downwind and down tide, the two classes sailed the first leg to Browndown to drop spinnakers and beat back against the tide to W Ryde Middle.  Rounding W Ryde Middle to starboard they reached up to Ancasta, rounded the mark to starboard and set spinnakers to sail east towards NE Ryde Middle.  From NE Ryde Middle to port it was a short leg to Browndown and a reach up to Royal Yacht Squadron, before the final beat back against the tide to the RYS line.

Class 1 was won by Spirit C72 modern classic sloop Gwenhyfar II.  Laurent Giles sloop Cetewayo made it two wins from two races in Class 2, and S&S sloop Sunstone won Class 3.  West Solent One Design Enchanted took her second win of the week in Class 4.  At the time of writing, Class 5 results are pending a protest decision.

A long day’s racing was rounded off with much-appreciated cold beers on the dock from Bainbridge international.

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David Murrin (founder of Global Forecaster) on his yacht Cetewayo, finishing Race 1 at British Classic Week 2024

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‘EPIC’ FIRST DAY AT BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK 2024

Day one at this year’s British Classic Week brought wet and windy racing for the fleet of classic and modern classic yachts from the UK, Europe, and as far afield as Australia.  Replacing the previous ‘NAB Tower’ Race, the new Forts Race sponsored by Spirit Yachts saw the fleet head east in wind against tide conditions.

 Regatta Chairman Giovanni Belgrano commented, “It was epic out there!  An awesome day’s racing in good wind and a great course set by race management.”

First day regatta excitement and a following tide saw too many yachts over the line and a general recall for the fleet start on the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) line.  The second start went smoothly with Classes 1 and 2 setting off from the outer line and Classes 3, 4, and 5 (the Gaffers) from the inner line.

 All classes sailed upwind to the east and the first mark, Fastnet Insurance, creating a spectacle for the crowd watching from the shore.  Rounding Fastnest Insurance to starboard, Classes 1, 2, and 3 set off on a reach to Wightlink.  A port rounding took them upwind to Mother Bank in a building sea state and 15-17 knots of breeze, which steadily moved round to the southeast as predicted by the forecast.

Rounding Mother Bank to port, Classes 1-3 sailed northeast to Darling Associates Architects off the mainland coast.  From there, it was a long beat out through the Solent Forts in a choppy sea to Warner.

A gybe around Warner to starboard saw spinnakers hoisted for a spectacular leg back through the Forts against the tide to Kemps Quay.  Rounding Kemps Quay to starboard, it was downwind to Browndown to port and on to East Bramble.  Gybing around East Bramble to port, Classes 1-3 surfed their way down the waves to finish at the RYS line.

 Classes 4 and 5 sailed shorter courses of a similar time length, resulting in all five classes descending on the RYS line in sequence with spinnakers decorating the grey-sky horizon with splashes of colour.

Class 1 was won by Spirit R52 Happy Forever, which joins the regatta from her home port of Mallorca.  In Classes 2 and 3 it was the day for Laurent Giles designed sloops, with Cetewayo taking Class 2 and Whooper Class 3.  In Class 4, West Solent One Design Enchanted beat Stella Timoa by 0.01 second!  Bermudan cutter Eiluun sailed a strong race and convincingly won Class 5.

ENTRY OPEN FOR ‘NEW LOOK’ BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK

British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC) has announced entry is open for its annual British Classic Week regatta in Cowes.  Alongside opening the entry, BCYC has revealed new event management and fresh changes to the format of the regatta.

Taking place from 15th to 20th July, the regatta will run from Monday to Friday allowing yachts and crew more time for logistics over the weekends either side.  For owners keen for extra racing, British Classic Week has teamed up with the Taittinger Regatta (12th – 14th July in nearby Yarmouth) to offer a feeder/passage race between the two events on Sunday 14th July.

Incoming BCYC Regatta Chairman, Giovanni Belgrano, commented, “We have put a lot of work into analysing the regatta to make it more enjoyable on the water and ashore.  Our new, refreshed programme offers varied, ‘classic-friendly’ racing, lots of socialising, and a stable, sustainable model for the future of the regatta.”

As well as changes to the format, BCYC has unveiled details of new eligibility criteria for entry.  As per previous years, entries are invited from classic yachts built of wood, steel, or aluminium to either a pre-1970 design or modern classic yachts built with the appearance of a classic. This year, applications from classic or Spirit of Tradition GRP yachts will also be considered.  The regatta continues to welcome gaff-rigged yachts and aims to host a dedicated class programme.

Cruising yachts and classic motor boats are invited to join the Concours d’Elegance Parade, watch the racing, explore local waters, and enjoy the social events at the regatta’s base at Cowes Yacht Haven.

Giovanni continued, “The original ethos of British Classic Week was to have the best sailing on the water no matter your level of experience and to come ashore for informal, good quality fun with friends.  With our new approach we are going back to our roots, and we invite classic yacht owners, crew, guests, and spectators to get involved.  We already have a lot of interest from across the UK and Europe, so it’s set to be a fantastic event.”

Racing entrants will take on a five-race series organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron. 

The programme includes a coastal race sponsored by Spirit Yachts, which takes yachts east through the Solent Forts.  Weather permitting, there will be a race around the Isle of Wight sponsored by Global Forecaster (with a back-up ‘Inside Island’ course, or a shorter around the cans race if it’s light winds). 

The Long Inshore race sponsored by OneSails GBR will offer further opportunity for the yachts to stretch their legs alongside a beautifully maintained fleet of classics.  To round off the week, an innovative pursuit race is planned for Friday 20th July.

The regatta maintains its commitment to opportunities for women in sailing with its female-helm race, which is followed by the infamous ‘Pontoon Party’ in the evening.  The party is sponsored by Classic Boat magazine with drinks from Dartmouth Gin and Hattiers Rum. 

Further race and event sponsorship comes from Suffolk Yacht Harbour and traditional chandlery Classic Marine.

In addition to the Pontoon Party, the social programme sees popular events retained such as welcome drinks at the Royal Yacht Squadron and the final prize giving dinner.  Dock parties organised by the various classes will undoubtedly bring a lively addition to the shoreside scene.