British Classic Week 2021 - Day 2
by Helen Porter 19 Jul 22:10 BST
17-24 July 2021
After a short postponement, Classes 1-4 set off for round the cans racing in blazing sunshine on day two at British Classic Week.
With the tide having just turned and a steady 8knot breeze in the air, all classes set off upwind from the outer Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) line.
Classes 1 and 2 snuck in close to the mainland shore for the beat up to Dolphin before rounding the mark to port and reaching across the Solent, allowing for the now strong tide to take East Lepe to starboard. It was then a long beat across to the mainland shore towards West Lepe in the west. With the flooding tide taking the yachts down the channel, and the wind steadily fading, precision sailing was required to make the final mark (John Rainger).
Sailing a shorter course to allow for the ripping tide, Classes 3 and 4 also set off on the upwind leg close into the mainland shore to Lepe Spit. With a watchful eye on the depth close inshore, it then took some yachts a couple of extra tacks to beat the tide and creep around Lepe Spit to port, before some hoisted kites for the reach across to Gurnard and downwind onto RORC. The penultimate leg saw a beat back up against the tide to N.E Gurnard and a reach across back to Gurnard, all the while judging the infamously challenging Solent tides.
The final leg for all classes saw the yachts gliding eastwards back down the Solent under spinnaker to finish on the RYS line.
Victoria Preston, owner of West Solent One Design Suvretta (with currently two class wins under her belt), commented, “The race today was perfect. True champagne sailing and a great course. Suvretta is a beautiful boat, very easy to handle, she sails herself. We have a mixed crew of experienced and new sailors, who all work well as a team. We are risk averse and we talk everything through carefully and tactically.”
Spirit 52 Happy Forever placed first in Class 1 and 8mR Helen took her second win from two races. Regatta overall winner from 2019, Whooper won Class 3 and Suvretta made it two from two to wins in Class 4.
This evening sees guests enjoy sundowners and canapés at the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron.
Find out more at www.britishclassicweek.co.uk