Day 5 of Cowes Classics Week saw West South West to South-South Westerly winds of up to 20 knots and lots of sunshine provided some exciting champagne sailing on the last day of this year’s iteration.
All classes had 1 race only, windward/leeward laid marks for the dayboats, while the classic yachts had a cracking beat to the west along the Green to East Lepe and Cowes Yacht Haven against the flood tide, which must have provided some great spectator viewing, and then to the east to finish off a great week.
The XODs were relegated to Osborne Bay due to all the other racing activity going on in the Central Solent, and in the lee of the Island suffered a major wind shift after the start which resulted in an abandonment whilst on the first beat. As always, the highly competitive XOD fleet were pushy on the line and further attempts to get racing underway eventually resulted in a black flag start over an hour later. The final result for the week was Swallow, Ben McGrane first, Astralita, John Tremlett second and Lone Star, Paul Woodman third.
The Daring result rested on this last day so they also had a very competitive start but got away 1st time with Doublet, Graham Wilkinson winning the week by one point from Dauntless, Gilles Peckham with Streak, Malcolm Lofts third.
The 1922 Classic Mermaids were won by Zara, Richard Hill and Willian Garnett also gaining the RLYC Anniversary Bowl by one point from Cynthia, Mike Randall.
In the Classic Yachts, Division 1 was won overall by Bojar, Mark Dowie, the Spirit of Tradition class by Chameleon of Cowes, Chris Savage, Division 2 by Binkie II, Colin Wetherall, and Division 3 by Warrior Richard Hollis, who also won the New Helm Trophy. Top of the Old Gaffers was Alberta, Richard Haines, who also won the Travellers Trophy for sailing his Oyster Smack down from Mersea on the East Coast.
Prestigious Seamanship Trophy was awarded to XOD Estelle, David Howlett, who when racing over on the New Forest shore on Tuesday broke his boom in over 20 knots of wind yet then managed to sail back upwind to Cowes under jib only.
Finally, the David Gower Bowl was presented for the youngest average age crew in the event at 21 years and 4 months to Henry Rochford, Harriet Watkins and Harriet Askew from the Division 3 Alacrity 19 Ipyu-Aya.
The regatta dates for next year are 8th – 14th July 2023.
