Strong winds led to changes to Thursday’s racing schedule at North Sails Cowes Week, with smaller boats unable to compete while the regatta’s larger yachts enjoyed testing conditions on the Solent.
Forecasts predicted winds approaching 30 knots, prompting Principal Race Officer Phil Warwick and his race team to bring forward class starts to get crews back ashore by around 14:00, before the strongest conditions arrived.
The forecast proved too severe for the smaller boats and White Group keelboat fleets, which did not race.
The day’s headline event was the Britannia Cup, first presented by King George VI in 1950.
Competitors from IRC Class Zero, Class 1 and the Cape 31 fleet raced together, with Hong Kong-owned TP52 Beau Geste claiming victory after conditions favoured the larger yachts.
Competition remains close in the Etchells class after 5 days of racing. Chris Hampton, sailing Tango, holds a narrow advantage over Andy Beadsworth’s crew, while Isle of Wight sailors Cooper Shanks and Bingley, aboard Ice, remain in contention.
Dauntless returned to the top of the Daring class standings after winning Thursday’s race, despite an inconsistent week that has included both race victories and lower placings.
In the Sonata class, Jennie XXX, sailed by Luke Bowen-Clark, Simon Clark, Dave Thompson and Martin Scott of Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, claimed victory after overnight leaders Barbastelle finished 5th.
Lady Khumbu moved into the overall lead in the J/70 class after Martin Dent’s Jelvis retired from racing. Sir Ben Ainslie was also on the water, leading a crew from his Athena Pathway youth programme.
The X One Design fleet did not race, leaving Lonestar, sailed by Phil Lawrence, David King and Nick Froud, at the top of the overall standings with 2 races remaining.
In the cruiser classes, Richard Patrick’s Dusty P continued its impressive form to lead Performance Cruiser A with a string of 1st and 2nd-place finishes.
Performance Cruiser B remains one of the closest contests of the regatta, with Hot Pursuit, sailed by Adam Brooks and Tim Cork, tied on points with Eldie, sailed by Neil and Annabel Miller. Warrior, skippered by Simon James Faren, sits just 2 points behind.
David Neville’s Islay leads Club Cruiser A, although Vesper I, sailed by Andrew Haning, trails by just a single point, with Michael and Suzy Carrington’s Susimi III a further point behind.
Club Cruiser D remains the exception, with Andy Maskell’s High Spirit having won 3 races and finished second in another before Thursday’s racing was cancelled for the class.
Young sailors from the Scaramouche Sailing Trust also took part during the day. The initiative introduces young people from disadvantaged inner-city communities to sailing and careers within the marine industry.
As racing concluded, spectators on Cowes seafront were treated to a North Sails Action Sports kitesurfing display, made all the more spectacular by the strengthening winds.
