Fast 40+ Class at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week - Day 6
by Fast 40+ Race Circuit 11 Aug 2016 21:10 BST
6-12 August 2016
There was joy and pain in the FAST40+ Class on the sixth day of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. Bill Coates was full of emotion as his Texan Ker 43 Otra Vez was in cruise control, crossing the finish line today.
Leading for the entire race, to win one of Cowes Week most prestigious trophies; The Britannia Cup. In doing so it means that the trophy remains in American hands after Bella Mente's win last year.
"Ed Peel sails on board Otra Vez and is a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron, tonight Ed will have dinner at the club and he has the honour of the trophy at his table." smiled Bill Coates. "I see what that means to him and it makes me realise what an honour it is to win the Britannia Cup. The trophy was created to re-ignite yacht racing after the war, and that has a real parody with the FAST40+ Class. Today was just one of those days when everything went our way. We got the start right and got into lifting pressure, after that it was really just about staying clean and not making any errors."
Peter Morton's Carkeek 40+ Girls on Film was second today, and with the discard rule kicking in, retains the overall lead at Cowes Week by a single point from Sir Keith Mills Ker40+ Invictus, which placed third. There was pain for Invictus, as backstay problem hampered their performance. Johnny Vincent's Pace also suffered gear failure prior to that start and was unable to compete today.
"The gear failure meant that Girls on Film got by us, so we lost a place." commented Sir Keith Mills. "That is just how it goes sometimes, but yet again we had fantastic competitive racing. In tomorrow's last race we will be focusing on a win, we can't influence anything else."
Steve Cowie's Scottish team racing GP42 Zephyr had there best result of the regatta, placing fourth. "We have come along way." commented Zephyr's Kev Miller. "The vast majority of the team are from Scotland and have known each other for years. We have only been racing at this level for about a year, and nearly all are amateurs, so to get a fourth today in an old boat was a great reward for the effort we have put in. The team spirit is great, win or lose we have the heart, but we didn't make any big mistakes today; that was the big difference."
After racing the FAST40+ Class had a laid back crew party in one of Cowes famous taverns; The Pier View. "It is like the circus has come to town!" laughed Landlady Sue Wescomb. "There must be a dozen or more sailors well over six-foot. It is great to have the FAST40+ Class come in for a pint, it feels like Cowes Week was a few years back."
The win in the FAST40+ Class will be going to the wire tomorrow. Three teams are in the hunt for victory; Girls on Film, Invictus and Otra Vez. The last race at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is also for the coveted New York Yacht Club Trophy.
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For daily news reports, results and more visit the FAST40+ web site, www.fast40class.com