Sigma 38 Queen Victoria Jubilee Trophy and David Thomas Regatta
by Susan Rainger 5 Jun 2013 16:11 BST
1-2 June 2013
Sigma 38 David Thomas Regatta for the Queen Victoria Jubilee Trophy © Susan Rainger
Twenty-five Sigma 38 circumnavigated the Isle of Wight in their 25th Anniversary year, revelling in near perfect conditions of sunshine and more wind than forecasted. This tenacious, British designed yacht was one of the biggest one-design entries in the 2013 RTIR. There were thrills and spills all the way round with many of the fleet converging and almost re-starting at St. Catherine's Point.
With Alacrity was first Sigma 38 home in a race that they can rightly call their own, winning for the third time. Mefisto was second and Pandanova finished third. Intense battles for places happened throughout this competitive fleet but none more so than the tacking duel between Light and Pavlova in the last mile with Light taking 4th place by just 17 seconds.
On Sunday just to prove how much this thriving class loves to race, while most other competitors were recovering from the excesses of the RTIR and the night after, 14 Sigma 38s were straight out on the race course again. As an official celebration of The Sigma 38 Anniversary the Royal London Yacht Club had organised the David Thomas Regatta. All yachts designed by this prolific, successful British designer were invited to participate in 3 short, sharp races. The Sigma 38 Class actively encourages and helps newer owners and those less experienced to get out racing and as so many boats are in Cowes, Sunday provides the perfect opportunity.
Class Chairman, Rob Lee and his team on Kindred Spirit won the event with an impressive 2 firsts and a second and were presented with the magnificent Queen Victoria Jubilee Trophy. Mefisto finished second overall and Light, third. The historic Royal London YC, celebrating its own 175th Anniversary, welcomed the fleet back for prize giving, tea and a wonderful Sigma 38 anniversary cake.
All in all a fabulous weekend of racing and what better way to celebrate the Sigma 38s and David Thomas, himself, who designed the Sigma 38 following the tragic 1979 Fastnet when RORC set a challenge to develop a One Design Cruiser Racer that would stand up to tough offshore conditions. It is fitting that 25 years later the Sigma 38 continues to be one of the most active racing classes.