Victory class at Cowes Week - Overall
by Kim Taylor 9 Aug 2009 16:00 BST
1-8 August 2009
A turnout of twenty boats for the 75th Anniversary ensured the Class was one of the biggest dayboat classes this year and featured boats old and new.
The oldest boat competing was Kestrel built in 1934 and owned by class newcomers Phil and Adrian Parnell with Edward Younghusband.
With five past Cowes Week winners helming it was always going to be a competitive week but Jeremy Lear's Zinnia (John Tremlett helming and crewed by Jeremy and Sally Heatlie) lead from the front by scoring 5 firsts and a second place to dominate the week. They were pushed on some days, but their tactical nouse, offwind speed and great team work put them well ahead overall and also secured them the Westmacott Trophy and second place in White group overall.
Clive Cokayne who came second in his first year at Cowes with Zara (crewed by Jez Taylor and Anne Marie Stewart) was out ahead of the chasing pack.
The next 5 boats were separated by only 5 points and the positions amongst them changed throughout the week but third place finally went to the newest boat in the fleet launched earlier this year- Clive Buxton's, GRP composite Pelican helmed by Martin Hunter with Mark Dennington and either Clive Buxton or Jo Leadingham.
A particular feature of the fleet this year was that the top three boats sailed the week with mixed male/female crews and lady crews featured aboard more than half the fleet. Leading female helm Janet Dee scored 2 guns by way of a third place and a second on the last day.
In the “Constructors” championship places were scored as follows:
John Perry 1,4,13,14 (current builder)
David Heritage (GRP) 3,7, 11,16 (current builder)
Hamper 2,5,6,12,18,19
Harry Feltham 9,10
Others / Unknown 8, 15,17,20
The passage race to Cowes was won by Jim Page's GRP composite Zafirah
from Pelican and Bill Arnold's Zarena.
The Class social events during the week included a barbeque at Shepherds Wharf and dinner at the Royal London Yacht Club which were well supported and enjoyed by all.
For more information on the class go to www.victoryclass.org.uk