Portsmouth Victorys at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week

by Kim Taylor 14 Aug 2011 15:35 BST 6-13 August 2011

One of the toughest weeks in many years had us racing on three of the seven days in gusts over Force seven but, notwithstanding, the boats and crews on the 16 entries (the third biggest traditional one design class) stood up to those challenges remarkably well. Even on the rough days, there were several occasions when 3 or 4 boats finished within seconds of each other after a couple of hours of racing , a regular feature of the Class.

Not surprisingly, the conditions caused a number of problems and one boat could have been lost but for the fact that ,although capsized, it was one of the new GRP boats which have been designed with sufficient built-in buoyancy to float when completely swamped. The boat was recovered and pronounced fit to go again the day after.

At the front of the fleet it was Mark and Joanna Dennington's Z78 Ziva helmed by Jim Downing, the latest of the GRP boats and the first GRP boat to win the week after their introduction 4 years ago. They sailed consistently well and won the week with a day in hand. They were also 4th in the Westmacott trophy covering all Westmacott designed fleets.

Behind them the placings were hotly contested with the next six boats separated by only a few points and the 2nd and 3rd places not decided until the final race.

Russell Mead's Shearwater Z49 had the better results in the lighter conditions than Geoff Dixon, Maxine Reeves and Hugh Winter in Z54 Zelia, which had the better of the heavier days, but on the last day Russell's first place, ahead of Geoff's second, gave him second overall from Zelia, third. The John Hunter Pot for the best of the “bronze” fleet competitors went to Tom Taylor's newly restored Z45 Nada including a third place and they would have done even better but for a couple of navigational errors.

This was the first Cowes Week sailed to the Minimum Sailing Weight rule of 1290kgs which allowed some older wooden boats to reduce their trimming ballast.

For full results see the Cowes Week or Victory Class websites.

Individual race reports:

Race 1 – Blackbird Trophy
5-12 Wly. A difficult start with the wind dying on the line caused a few problems as the fleet tried to cheat the tide along the Green. The early leader was Gareth Penn in Z67 Zircon but first around the windward mark was Russell Mead in Shearwater Z49 who sailed away for a comfortable win. Tom Taylor's Nada was second over the finish line but having been OCS and failed to restart correctly was disqualified leaving Kim and Sally Taylor's Zest Z76 in second from Gareth Penn's third.

Race 2 – Eagle Trophy

14-18 Wly. After a downwind start Kim Taylor's Z76 lead for a couple of legs until caught by Jim Page's Z73 helmed by Martin Hunter on the Island shore but this group overstood the mark allowing Mark and Jo Dennington's Ziva Z78, which took the Ryde bank route to round the 2nd windward mark well in the lead which they maintained. In the following group Russell Mead's Z49 was second and Geoff Dixon Z54 was third.

Race 3 - Mitham Trophy

15-28 Nwly . A relatively benign F4 began to increase as the fleet approached the mainland shore to round Quinnell. Early leader was Janet Dee's Z57 Variety helmed by Shaun Hopkins. All boats had their hands full under spinnaker down the next shifty run with gusts over 30k.

Z57 with a spinnaker problem was caught by Z54 who appeared to have a good lead by the end of the second windward leg. The next run was equally tricky. As Z76 rolled to windward Sally Taylor was lifted by a wave and out of the boat but was quickly recovered by the remaining crew with Z67 Gareth Penn and Z70 Graham Stone standing by. Then Jim Page's GRP Z73 capsized but came up floating but swamped with the crew recovered by Z70 and others. The boat continued to float and was attached to Universal Marine for its successful recovery later.

Meanwhile the race continued with Russell Mead Z49 getting ahead of Z54 and Ziva Z78 getting third after more than 3.5 hours of hard racing.

Race 4 – Courage Barclay Trophy

10-14 Nwly . After a fetch to the first mark, the course did not improve and a succession of reaches meant those away early at the start were unlikely to be caught except for a time when the wind died on the final fetch to the line and those inshore out of the tide looked to have gained. With the wind filling back in from the NW the positions were largely maintained. Ziva Z78 won from Z38 Minx helmed by Andrew Terry. Shaun Hopkins helming Z57 Variety was third over the line but carrying an I flag penalty which enabled Tom Taylor in Z45 Nada, from the northern route on the last leg, in for third.

After 4 races Z78 Ziva was ahead overall, 1 point ahead of Shearwater Z49 but the positions were reversed if the discard was applied.

Race 5

17-26 Wly Another running start the first leg waswon by Z 78 Ziva for a lead they held throughout. The main chasing group of Z54, Z49 and Z57 helmed by Janet Dee was caught and overtaken by Z76 inshore but Z54 pulled through to second at the outer distance mark and Z57 to third with 20 seconds separating these 3 boats at the finish.

Race6 - HV Culpan Challenge Cup

17-28 Wly . The fleet was lead off the running start by Shaun Hopkins helming Z57 Variety and powered off to a good lead at the leeward mark which they never lost despite being chased hard by Z78 Ziva for second and Z 54 Zelia for third.

With her second place Ziva was unbeatable for the overall series but Z49, Z54 and Z57 were in close contention for second and third.

Race 7 – Ian Mead Memorial Plate

14-18 WNWly. The first beat with the assistance of >2 knots of west going tide was lumpy and the Hampshire shore mark not easy to see. Early leader Shaun Hopkins sailing Z57 overstood as did many others. Z49 found it first, followed by Z54 Zelia for a good lead over those following. Z76 was third at the leeward mark but was caught by the following group before the start of the final long run to the RYS line, our first finish there for the week.

The fleet crabbed across to the Island shore and with the usual mix of other fleets diced along the shore , in for less tide, out for more wind. Plenty of shouts for water and the occasionally grounding along the Green added to the fun , for those ashore at least. Z49 held her lead but Z54 was ten seconds ahead of Z76 , 4 secs ahead of Z57 with the following group of Z78, Z67, Z58 and Z72 in within another 20 seconds to finish a classic, if bruising, Victory Class Cowes week.

The passage race to Cowes was won by Z38 Minx (Andrew Terry).

“Constructors Championship”: (boat positions)

David Heritage Racing Yachts (GRP composite), 1:5:8:13 (current builder)
John Perry, 11:12:15:16 (current builder)
AW Clemens, 3
Harry Feltham, 4:9
RA Hamper, 2:6:7:10:14