Please select your home edition
Edition
Exposure Marine

Sleeping Tiger wakes to win Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show

by Mark Jardine 26 Feb 2022 16:17 GMT 26 February 2022
Glen Truswell's International Canoe wins the Concours d'Elegance at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2022 © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

It's a new beginning for the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show, being held for the first time at Farnborough International, and there is certainly a buzz of excitement in the air. The exhibition hall is packed with visitors, with colour everywhere you look as dinghy associations show off their class of boat, attracting new members as the boating boom continues.

For the judging of the Concours d'Elegance Mark Jardine, Editor of YachtsandYachting.com, was joined this year by British Sailing Team ILCA 7 and WASZP sailor Sam Whaley, and they spent most of the morning admiring the incredible display of boats. The attention to detail shown by so many classes made finding a winner especially difficult, but Glen Truswell's International Canoe took top honours, thanks to detailing which was simply breath-taking.

This makes Glen the first two-time winner of the trophy, after his International 14 'Scrumpet' won in 2016.

Glen said, on winning the award, "I'm absolutely amazed, delighted and flattered that you feel the boat has reached that standard. Thanks to all my friends in the International Canoe class that helped guide me through the process of joining the class and figuring out how to build a quick boat with assistance and guidance."

Coming in a close second was the 1964 Merlin Rocket 'Hullabaloo'. The varnish finish on this 60-year-old classic was beautiful, and the modern additions, such as carbon spars, were sympathetically added with minimal control lines compared to a modern Merlin.

In joint third place were two boats from opposite ends of the spectrum. Both Phil Hodgkins' GP14 and Kyle Stoneham's International Moth were stunningly presented, and even though the two designs were so different Sam and Mark were unable to separate them.

Of particular note this year are some of the paint jobs and boat graphics, which have again stepped up a gear, with a combination of techniques employed, including within the gelcoat, vinyl boat wraps, metallic paints, and cool stickers.

Mark Jardine said after the award was presented, "What a show! Everyone was on tenterhooks with the move to the new venue as to what it would be like, and the sense of anticipation was palpable. To see so many people flood into the halls was fantastic, and for them to be able to see sailing in its best light, with some stunning dinghies on display, was a joy. The classes aren't making our role as judges easy with the quality of boats, but that's such a good problem to have!"

Sam Whaley added, "It took a bit longer than we first anticipated! It's amazing when you take a look around at all the dinghies and you get lost in that world, chatting to every man and their dog, but it was great to see all the boats and we had some amazing candidates when we were deciding this year's winner."

The Concours d'Elegance has now been awarded for 14 years and has recognised a diverse range of boats, from classics with impeccable varnish finishes, to the latest in high tech sailing. Take a look at all winners of the prestigious trophy below.

Previous Concours d'Elegance Winners:

Related Articles

The appeal of offshore
Is there still appeal? Have we made it too onerous? Why would someone take it up now? I had been pondering. Yes. Marquee events have no issue attracting entrants. Middle Sea, Transpac, Cape to Rio, Fastnet, and Hobart all spring to mind instantly, but what of the ‘lesser' races? Lots of boats in pens (slips) a lot of the time Posted on 18 May
X 195 'Turtle' Launch
The first new X One Design in 18 years! I attended a rare event in the X One Design class: the launch of a new boat. It has been 18 years since the last new X was launched, and X195 has been a project that long in the making. Posted on 17 May
Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water. Posted on 14 May
Exposure Marine Fastnet Race Kit Video Review
A set of 3 torches specifically designed for offshore racing crews It's a huge year for offshore sailing, and arguably the biggest event of the summer is the Rolex Fastnet Race. Within an hour of entries opening the Royal Ocean Racing Club had received a record 435 yacht registrations. Posted on 14 May
How Seldén Carbon Masts are made
I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood to find out more I took a look around the Seldén Mast factory with Richard Thoroughgood from Seldén to find out a bit more about how the carbon tow reels become the masts that we use when out sailing. Posted on 12 May
For the love of slightly larger, even faster boats
Bring it on. No chicken chutes allowed. Celestial, the newest Cape 31 in Oz is up and racing Thank you. You have let For the love of small, fast boats run before the breeze like a superlight planning hull under way too big a kite, with immense sheep in the paddock, and the Sailing Master grasping the flare gun in his pocket... No chicken chutes. Posted on 4 May
The Allure of Timber
The longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood In these days of exotic materials, high modulus carbon and ultra lightweight construction, it's possible to overlook the longevity, and sheer beauty, of boats made of wood. Posted on 29 Apr
A look inside the Spirit Yachts yard
A close look at what makes their yachts unique Traditional skills in boatbuilding could be regarded as a lost art from a bygone era. In the world of fibreglass and carbon, the joinery and laminating techniques of wood ribs and cedar strips are a thing of the past. Posted on 28 Apr
Make me smile even wider and brighter
What's better than writing about a great programme to get people into yachting? Only one thing... What's better than writing about a great programme to get people into yachting? Well, how about actually speaking with a former participant who has then gone on to work in the industry. That's what! Posted on 22 Apr
The holistic approach of Ancasta Yacht Services
Helping owners protect their investment and keep their boat in top condition Take a look behind the wood, gelcoat and trim panels on any modern yacht or powerboat, and you'll see that they are complex things. An array of cables, hoses & pipes interconnects electronic devices and amenities which make life on board more comfortable. Posted on 17 Apr