With the spectacle of many of the fleets finishing in the sunshine, downwind under spinnaker, this year’s Cowes Week concluded in style.
The week saw a complete range of conditions, which were perfect for testing all the boats. Everything from big gusts and lumpy seas to flat, light airs and even a day off due to Storm Floris, which many welcomed after long, windy races on Sunday.
The final day dawned bright, with flat seas and light winds, but the wind soon filled in and all classes got away on time.
Top boats emerging over the week were those who could keep their consistency in everything from the lightest airs, to big shifts and gusty strong breezes, with the added spice of the usual Solent tidal complexities.
It was about good boat-handling, but also shift spotting and tactical planning together with sharp eyes to spot the marks as the course team juggled the challenges of the weather and varied fleets.
The event concluded with a grand prizegiving at the Royal Yacht Squadron for the RYS Trophies, followed by the full, public prizegiving on the stage at the Cowes Yacht Haven.
Read more here . . . Report by Gael Pawson
Final Overall Leaders :
Black Group Overall
1, BLT (Sam Laidlaw)
2, TOKOLOSHE 4 (Russell Peters & Dave Bartholomew)
3, LEON (David Franks)
White Group Overall
1, ASTRALITA (John Tremlett, Tim Copsey & Fraser Graham)
2, BERTIE (Richard Bailey)
3, SHEEN (Seaview Yacht Club)
IRC Class 0
1, BRAVEHEART (Malcolm Offord)
2, VAN UDEN – ROST 3 (Gerd-Jan Poortman)
3, GLADIATOR (Tony Langley)
IRC Class 1
1, TOKOLOSHE 4 (Russell Peters & Dave Bartholomew)
2, FARGO (Bertie Bicket)
3, TILT (Alex & Andy Moore)
IRC Class 2
1, LEON (David Franks)
2, JACK RABBIT (Rutger Krijger & Caroline van Beelen)
3, YES! (Adam Gosling)
IRC Class 3
1, PELIKANEN (Jamie McWilliam)
2, ZIGGY (Kevin Downer)
3, WHOOPER (Giovanni Belgrano)
IRC Class 4
1, WARP 5 (Jan Scholtes)
2, JAVELIN (Richard Newsom)
3, NIGHTJAR (Libby Finch, Jack & Joe Banks, & Penny Jeffcoate)
IRC Class 5
1, SCHERZO OF COWES (Peter and Alison Morton)
2, BANTER (Handley James Families)
3, STAN THE BOAT (Toby Gorman)
IRC Class 6
1, BLT (Sam Laidlaw)
2, PURPLE HAZE (Stuart Cranston)
3, PACIFIST (Duncan Peace)
IRC Class 7
1, WIGHT WEDDING (Craig and Emma Dymock)
2, FINAL WARNING (Jonathan Wallis)
3, SONIC (Robin Leather)
Cape 31 overall
1, BULLIT (Julian Metherell)
2, FLYING JENNY (Sandra Askew)
3, KHUMBU 2 (Guy Gillon)
Contessa 32
1, DRUMBEAT (Eldred Himsworth & Mark Himsworth)
2, MARY ROSE TUDOR (George Bell)
3, SOLAN GOOSE (Ben Rogers)
Daring
1, DAUNTLESS (Giles Peckham, Jane Peckham, Joshua Peckham, Tom Dickson)
2, DOUBLET (Rob Bottomley)
3, DESTROYER (Jamie Sheldon)
Club Cruiser C
1, SUSIMI III (Michael and Susi Carrington)
2, KILVA (Hugo Cuddigan)
3, ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK (Dan Law)
Club Cruiser D
1, HIGH SPIRIT (Andy Maskell)
2, PANDA OF HAMBLE (Ian Smyth & James Barnes)
3, STAR-BORN 4 (Andrew & Helen Yates)
Club Cruiser Overall
1, SUSIMI III (Michael and Susi Carrington)
2, PANDA OF HAMBLE (Ian Smyth & James Barnes)
3, HIGH SPIRIT (Andy Maskell)
Dragon
1, BLUEBOTTLE (Graham Bailey)
2, FIT CHICK (Chris Grosscurth & Jono Brown)
3, BERTIE (Simon Barter)
Etchells
1, NO DRAMAS (Beadsworth, Son and Associates)
2, TANGO (Chris Hampton, Jamie Lea, Paul Childs)
3, JOLLY ROGER (Thomas Abrey)
Flying 15
1, MEN BEHAVING BADLY (Rupert Mander)
2, WONKER (Mr Richard Jordan)
3, AKARANA (Graham & Libby Deegan)
J/70 overall
1, YETI RETURNS (Jack Davies)
2, XV MANTA (Izzey Hung & Rob Stein)
3, VALKYRIE (Patrick and Thomas Seely)
J/109
1, JOULE (Arjen van Leeuwen & Silvy Leijh)
2, JUKEBOX (John Smart)
3, J’TAIME JAMI (Michael Weinman & William Woodruff)
J/109 Bridgestone Tyres Trophy
1, JOULE (Arjen van Leeuwen & Silvy Leijh)
2, JUKEBOX (John Smart)
3, J’TAIME JAMI (Michael Weinman & William Woodruff)
Mermaid
1, SHEEN (Seaview Yacht Club)
2, ROSEMARY (Seaview Yacht Club)
3, CYNTHIA (Seaview Yacht Club)
Nautor’s Swan Trophy
1, BEDOUIN (Linda Goddard)
2, EMOTIONS (George Westerkamp)
3, SCHERZO OF COWES (Peter and Alison Morton)
Performance Cruiser A
1, ASSARAIN III (Chris Masterson)
2, DUSTY P (Mr Paul Beach)
3, TIAKI (Charles Youngman)
Performance Cruiser B
1, ELIDIE (Neil and Annabelle Miller)
2, COUGAR (Ruaraidh Plummer)
3, SPIRITWALKER (Steve Masters)
Performance Cruiser Overall
1, ELIDIE (Neil and Annabelle Miller)
2, ASSARAIN III (Chris Masterson)
3, DUSTY P (Mr Paul Beach)
Prometheus 41
1, HAWKSBILL RUM (Terry Hunt)
2, THE YACHTMARKET.COM (Terry Hunt)
3, SUNSAIL ZEPHYR (Terry Hunt)
Quarter Ton
1, BLT (Sam Laidlaw)
2, PURPLE HAZE (Stuart Cranston)
3, PACIFIST (Duncan Peace)
Redwing
1, PAROQUET (Rory Morrison)
2, HARLEQUIN (Matthew Alexander, John Raymond & Alexander Shaw)
3, QUAIL (James Wilson)
SB20 Mini Slam
1, BREAKING BOD (Annabel Whelan)
2, SHARK BAIT (Terry Kinch)
3, HUFFLER (Will Holden)
Sigma 33
1, STAN THE BOAT (Toby Gorman)
2, SHADOWFAX (David Rolfe, Clark Rutter & Tom McArdle)
3, PROSPERO OF HAMBLE (Allan Fraser)
Sonar
1, BERTIE (Richard Bailey)
2, ACF DOLPHIN (Andrew Cassell Foundation)
3, COWES MATCH RACING BLUE (Will Bradley)
Sonata
1, SONIC (Robin Leather)
2, PRESTO (Tim Exell, Adam Ridett, Chris Ridett & Daniel Ridett)
3, ENZO (Charlie & Jo Field)
Sportsboat
1, TIGGER (Jo Richards)
2, DERISION (Henry Heathcote)
3, CRESCENDO (James W Flynn)
Sunbeam
1, SKY (Oliver Gilchrist & Becky Wickens)
2, MISTY (Roger Wickens)
3, PEGGY (Stewart Coltart)
Victory
1, PEREGRINE (Duncan Evans & Tom Hartridge)
2, ZILCH (John Scammell & Maxine Reeves)
3, ZIVA (Jim Downing & Zoe Whittaker)
X One Design
1, ASTRALITA (John Tremlett, Tim Copsey & Fraser Graham)
2, XCITATION (Roger Yeoman)
3, GONE AWAY (Steve Lawrence, Damian Ash & Finn McCormack)
Ed Whelan Celebration Trophy
1, COUGAR (Ruaraidh Plummer)
2, MAD DASH (Sam Tregelles)
3, PRECISION (Salty Sailing)
Weekend Warrior Trophy
1, ARC EN CIEL (Geoffrey Yeowart)
2, ARCADIAN (Simon Grigg & Anne Jackson)
3, SCARYBIRD (Leigh Gibson)
The Westmacott Trophy
1, ASTRALITA (John Tremlett, Tim Copsey & Fraser Graham)
2, SHEEN (Seaview Yacht Club)
3, PEREGRINE (Duncan Evans & Tom Hartridge)
Under 25 Trophy
1, MARY ROSE TUDOR (George Bell)
2, DERISION (Henry Heathcote)
3, COWES MATCH RACING BLUE (Will Bradley)
4, COWES MATCH RACING RED (Ruby Sunderland)
Musto Young Skipper’s Trophy
1, MARY ROSE TUDOR (George Bell)
2, DERISION (Henry Heathcote)
3, COWES MATCH RACING BLUE (Will Bradley)
Cape 31 mini-series
1, FLYING JENNY (Sandra Askew)
2, BULLIT (Julian Metherell)
3, AKHEILOS (Ben Pritchard)
J/70 short series
1, JELVIS (Martin Dent)
2, CASTING COUCH (Cate Muller-Terhune)
3, CALYPSO (Ali Hall)
SB20 Grand Slam
1, GLASGOW KISS (Nils Razmilovic)
2, ABSOLUT CARNAGE (Matt, Chris Williams & Robin Kirby)
3, BETTY (Simon Berry, Nick Meadow & Paul Roberts)
Swallow
1, OSPREY (James Hartley)
2, SVALA (Nigel Masding, Hugo Fisher & Paul Ward)
3, SKUA (Harry and Prue Roome & Pip Tagg)
Newcomers Trophy
1, WARP 5 (Jan Scholtes)
2, TANGO (Chris Hampton, Jamie Lea, Paul Childs)
3, PURPLE HAZE (Stuart Cranston)
Commodores’ Challenge Cup
1, SONIC (Robin Leather)
2, KHUMBU 2 (Guy Gillon)
3, DESTROYER (Jamie Sheldon)
Ariel Trophy – Female Helm
1, BEDOUIN (Linda Goddard)
2, FINAL WARNING (Jonathan Wallis)
3, BANTER (Handley James Families)
Mermaid Trophy – Female Crew
1, NIGHTJAR (Libby Finch, Jack & Joe Banks, & Penny Jeffcoate)
2, GOSLING (Gosling Family)
3, TORTOISE (Carol & Barry Dunning)
Weekend Warrior Trophy
1, ARC EN CIEL (Geoffrey Yeowart)
2, ARCADIAN (Simon Grigg & Anne Jackson)
3, SCARYBIRD (Leigh Gibson)
Equal Seas Trophy – Mixed Crew
1, WIGHT WEDDING (Craig and Emma Dymock)
2, SKY (Oliver Gilchrist & Becky Wickens)
3, FLYING JENNY (Sandra Askew)
