Sigma 33s return to Cowes for Class National Championship

Sigma 33s at Cowes Week © Rick Tomlinson / www.rick-tomlinson.com

Following the success of its 2010 national championship at Cowes Week, the Sigma 33 class association has chosen the event once again, as a platform in which to run its 2015 national championship, writes Sue Pelling.

Although racing within Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is not a classic championship format, the interaction with the other classes always creates plenty of interest and challenging racing.

So far 13 teams have signed up including a strong Solent fleet and boats from as far afield as the Isle of Man, Wales, Belgium, and the West Country. Although reigning champion Donald McLaren and his team on Sigmatic have decided not to make the long passage south from Helensburgh to defend their title, there'll be no shortage of competition.

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week champ 2014 – Dave Rolfe and team on Shadowfax – who won all five races last year, have signed up once again and are looking forward to the chance to defend their title. Others in the running include Dan Lewis's Partisan from Wales (Neyland SC) who was fourth at the nationals last year last year, and Toby Claridge's Excelle (Mylor YC) who was sixth. Stan the Boat owned by Solent Class Captain, Toby Gorman, Workout owned by Jeff Worboys, and Prospero of Hamble owned by Allan Fraser, are also hoping to challenge for the title.

This year, for the first time during Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, the class will be based at the UKSA just upriver from Cowes town, which means the competitors will have the luxury of walk-ashore moorings as well as a host of other facilities which will provide a campus atmosphere and an ideal setting for a class championship.

Racing will take place over the whole week from a committee boat line but a long race on Sunday will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line before the general Cowes Week sequence begins. There will also be two races on Monday.

Not surprisingly, this lively class has a full week of social activities planned including a volleyball contest between crews on Wednesday evening.

Toby Gorman – Solent Class Captain – commenting on the forthcoming championship said: "I am delighted at the number of boats we currently have entered and anticipate more entries to come. As always I am sure that the quality of racing will be excellent, however, we also have a great base for the fleet at UKSA where I look forward to catching up with the fleet in the bar post racing."