The 20th British Classic Week, hosted by British Classic Yacht Club, was won by the Robert Clarke designed 10 Tonner Cereste.
The Winners
Class 1 was won by Sean McMillan in his Spirit 52 Flight of Ufford, Louise Morton in her Andre Mauric sloop Lak II won a highly competitive Class 2, and with four wins in class to her name, Stiletto triumphed in Class 3.
One of the smallest yachts in the fleet, Stella Timoa, won both the Spirit Yachts Nab Tower and the Classic Boat Long Inshore races.
Hot off the heels of the Fife Regatta in Scotland, the beautiful gaff cutter Viola returned to British Classic Week from her home in the south of France to win the Je Ne Sais Quoi trophy overall.
Stella Timoa Wins The Long Inshore on Day Five at British Classic Week
British Classic Week – Day 5
July 21, 2022 – Day five of British Classic Week saw Stella Timoa win the Long Inshore Race sponsored by Classic Boat magazine. This was Timoa’s second passage race win of the week following the Nab Tower Race victory on day two.
With 5-6 knots from the south east, the fleet started on the combined line to the east with the tide. Spinnakers were hoisted as the yachts crossed the line and meandered down to Royal Yacht Squadron.
As the first yachts in the fleet approached Royal Yacht Squadron to round the mark to starboard, spinnakers were dropped for the reach across to Kemps Quay. As the leg began, the wind shifted and the reach became a beat, with much of the fleet becalmed in a wind hole in the middle of the Solent.
The tide slowly took the yachts down onto Kemps Quay, which they rounded to starboard. The wind filled in from the east as the fleet reached across the tide to the north shore and went upwind in 8-9 knots, creeping up the shore out of the oncoming tide.
Rounding Howden Fastnet to port, the fleet reached back across the Solent in the declining breeze where the Royal Yacht Squadron committee boat was waiting at Contessa 32 to finish the feet on a shortened the course.
Andrew Gilmour, owner of yacht Timoa, commented, “It was an intense race, we had to watch the wind all the time as it was constantly flicking around, with the yachts all bunched together and looking for clean air. It was a great challenging race, and you couldn’t rest for a minute.”
Spirit 37 Strega won Class 1, Whooper won Class 2, Fife gaff cutter Viola won Class 3, and Stella Timoa took first in Class 4.
Crews were rewarded at the end of the race with Hattiers Rum cocktails and Dartmouth Gin and tonics dropped to their yachts as they made their way back into Cowes.
Shifting Winds around the Cans on Day Three at British Classic Week
British Classic Week – Day 3
July 19th – 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 Yacht Data Bank 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.
Stella Timor Triumphs in the NAB Tower Race on Day Two At British Classic Week.
British Classic Week – Day 2
July 18th – With temperatures set to soar in the UK on day two of British Classic Week, it was an early start for the fleet taking part in the 30nm Nab Tower Race sponsored by Spirit Yachts.
As the early morning cloud cleared over Cowes, the fleet started on the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) combined line just after 8am. With 5-8 knots from the east, it was an upwind start against the tide.
Having crossed the line, the fleet tacked up the Solent with several yachts opting to go inshore to get out of the oncoming tide. As the tide slackened, the yachts stretched their legs with long tacks up the Solent towards No Man’s Land and Horse Sand Forts.
Upon reaching the forts, the sailors were put to the test as the sun really started to heat up and the breeze sat around 6 knots. Once they passed between the forts, the yachts took a south-easterly heading down to the Nab Tower, which is famous for its use as anti-submarine protection during World War I.
Rounding the Nab Tower to starboard, spinnakers were hoisted for the downwind leg back in 8-10 knots of breeze to the finish at the RYS line.
Spirit Yachts CEO Sean McMillan commented, “Another fantastic day’s racing in the Solent, the breeze held up and the fleet created quite a spectacle as it made its way down the Solent in the sunshine.”
The race was won overall by one of the smallest yachts in the fleet, 26ft Stella Timoa. Spirit 65 Chloe Giselle retains her line honours top spot from last year’s Nab Tower Race.
The 20th British Classic Week hosted by British Classic Yacht Club kicked off today with champagne sailing in the Solent.
British Classic Week – Day 1
July 17th – With 10-12 knots of wind from the S/E, the race committee at the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) set two separate courses, which saw Classes 1 and 2 set off on a 17nm course around the cans, with Classes 3 and 4 sailing a separate 12nm course.
All class starts set off from the RYS inner line heading east with the flooding tide. As the wind funnelled down the Solent from the east it whipped up the sea state resulting in very choppy conditions and a wet ride for the crews on the rail.
Once over the line, Classes 1 and 2 raced upwind with the tide to SE Ryde Middle. Rounding the mark to port, poles were set, and spinnakers were hoisted for the downwind leg to Goodall Roofing. Then it was back upwind to Mother Bank. With the tide slackening off and the sea state calming, Classes 1 and 2 reached across the Solent to round Ancasta to port and downwind to South Bramble.
From South Bramble, the course took them back upwind in the consistent breeze to South Ryde Middle. Rounding the mark to starboard, the yachts hoisted their spinnakers for a third and final time for the run with the tide down to the Royal Yacht Squadron and the finish.
Meanwhile, Classes 3 and 4 raced a similar but shorter course from the RYS line upwind to Peel Bank. With Osborne House (Queen Victoria’s former holiday home) in the background, the yachts rounded Peel Bank to port. Spinnakers were hoisted in beautiful sunshine as the yachts sailed downwind to gybe around Yacht Data Bank to port and continue to RORC. Taking RORC to port, Classes 3 and 4 sailed back upwind to Collette, before the final downwind leg to RYS.
BCYC Commodore Jonathan Dyke commented, “We couldn’t have asked for a better day. Great course setting, fantastic conditions; it was a brilliant start to the regatta.”
Spirit 52 Happy Forever won Class 1, racing sloop Crusade took Class 2, Stiletto won Class 3 and Robert Clarke 10 Tonner Cereste placed first in Class 4.
Back on the dock at Cowes Yacht Haven, the yachts were treated to cold Adnams Kobold beers as they relaxed and shared tales from the race course.
BCYC Yacht Club – https://www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/
British Classic Week – https://www.britishclassicweek.co.uk/
Chris Brown Photography