Etchells April Training Regatta at the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club

The Etchells April Training Regatta attracted 19 teams hosted by the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club © Jud Smith

Probably the most competitive and hotly contested keel boat class in the Solent, the Cowes Etchells fleet is tuning up for the 2016 Etchells Worlds hosted the Royal London Yacht Club. The April Training Regatta with coaching attracted 19 teams hosted by the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club (CCYC) and supported by Doyle Sails One Design guru, Jud Smith, who provided high level on the water coaching.

Jud Smith, an America's Cup winner, USA Rolex Sailor of the year and multiple World champion, put the fleet through their paces, first with multiple practise starts working on lane discipline and close quarter boat handling, before coaching the fleet on the art of sail trimming during racing.

10 knots from the south east provided perfect conditions for seven races over two days. Andrew Cooper's ICE won the first race, Etchells Class Captain, David Franks sailing his new boat, Strait Dealer took the second. World class sailors but newcomers to the Etchells fleet, Eddie Warden Owen and Ossie Stewart showed their pedigree by winning the Races 3 and 4. Lawrie Smith came back on the second day having suffered from main sail issues, to score two firsts and a second with his new boat straight out of David Heritage's workshop. Andrew Cooper won the last race to tie on points at the top of the leaderboard. However, it was Eddie Warden Owen's consistency for the weekend that paid off, winning the regatta on countback from Andrew Cooper in second and Laurie Smith in third.

At the prize giving Eddie Warden Owen commented. "Many thanks to the race committee and Jud Smith for the advice he gave to the whole fleet, and importantly to David Franks, without whom 19 boats would have never made it to the start line due to the terrible January fire that nearly decimated the local fleet."

Graham Sunderland whose brain child this coaching event was commented. "We all want to be better sailors, and part of that is to find out how to make our sails work really efficiently, and Jud's coaching did just that, this great experience has cemented a decision to make this a yearly event in the Etchells program."

Jud Smith commented. "I enjoyed the coaching very much and can't think of a place I would have rather been that weekend. I haven't seen that level of enthusiasm in Cowes since the Etchells class took off in 1993. I recall doing a similar clinic back then but this was much better organized with a proper race committee and regatta format. Clearly this was the place to be and a fitting kick off for a talented group of sailors. The standard of race management and the quality of racing will be outstanding at the World Championship this summer, every fleet in the world should be sending a full allotment."

The 2016 Etchells World Championship will be hosted by the Royal London Yacht Club in Cowes from 31 August - 10 September 2016. For more information visit www.2016.etchellsworlds.org