Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary Regatta Day 2
by Magnus Wheatley 12 Jun 19:10 BST
11-15 June 2025
Team Musto leading the RS Elite fleet on day 2 of the Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary Regatta © Paul Wyeth /
www.pwpictures.com
All seasons in one day as the competition gets serious in the RS Elite, Etchells and Mermaid Classes
Day two of the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta was described by Principal Race Officer, Tim Hancock, in his morning competitors' briefing as a 'transitional' one with a chilly, rain-filled weather system passing over the Solent revealing blue skies and humid winds as the afternoon progressed.
Three fleets ventured out today with the RS Elite Class completing three races of their National Championships to reach the halfway mark, joined by the Etchells fleet on the same course completing two warm up races ahead of their National Championship starting tomorrow.
Completing the triumvirate were the ever-popular Seaview Mermaid fleet, one of the keenest classes on the Solent, and a very welcome, colourful sight down in Osborne Bay, completing two laid-mark Solent courses to begin their regatta series.
The rain front itself presented a significant challenge in the early racing with the Solent going from a short, sharp chop out on the Hillhead plateau to a rolling swell before reverting back again. Big shifts came in on the south-easterly breeze that fluctuated between 14 knots at the beginning, down to 7 knots by the conclusion of the RS Elite Class's third race, atop a strong ebb tide that rewarded those teams that could change set-up quickest and saw the best teams rise to the top of the standings.
RS Elite Class - National Championship (after 5 Races)
Joe Llewellyn, Chris Draper and James Grant sailing 'Team Musto' had an outstanding day, bouncing back from the disappointment of their 'U' Flag disqualification in the second race yesterday, to win all three races today.
Quite simply, 'Team Musto's' racecraft was supreme with the ability race after race to hold their lane off the start line and eke into unassailable leads. Once again, their nearest competition, particularly in the first two races of the day, were the defending National Champions 'Riff Raff' of Russell Peters, Greg Wells and Zeb Elliott. Two second places but an uncharacteristic 6th in the final race sees 'Riff Raff' relegated to second overall as the discard comes into play.
Former Olympian Ossie Stewart sailing 'More T Vicar' cemented third spot on the podium but one of the most consistent performances of the day was Neil Fulcher sailing 'All the Gear' who secured second and third places in races four and five this afternoon as the weather went tricky and lighter.
At the half-way point of the regatta, it is hard to see this going any other way than a straight shoot-out between 'Team Musto' and 'Riff Raff' for the overall title, and with just one point separating them after discard, this is a National Championship that looks set to go right down to the wire. Certainly, by the standard of sailing and boatspeed that both teams showed today, they are very much the ones to beat.
Etchells Class - Pre-National Championship (after 2 races)
As a warm-up for one of the most anticipated Etchells National Championships in years, today was a two-race sighter for a reduced fleet of just seven boats, but nonetheless the competition was intense and the racing tight.
Reading the conditions superbly was the 2024 National Champion Chris Hampton who looks more than determined to put up a robust defence of his title this year. Starting well and tactically sound, Hampton's team onboard 'Tango' that includes Paul Childs and America's Cup sailor Ben Cornish showed slick boat-handling and moved through the set-up gears well in the variable sea-state and wind strengths. Two bullets were the reward ahead of Thomas Leather, Cameron Tookey Gardner, Thomas Goodman & Thalya Ambroziak onboard 'Shamal' that posted consistent results of fourth and third.
Seasoned Etchells campaigner, Shaun Frohlich who was fourth at the 2024 Nationals, sailed 'Exabyte' today and posted a close second in the first race and then retired from the second, whilst Ted Blowers sailing 'Audrey' posted a third in the opening race and then sailed ashore. One further notable result was that of Peter Judd, Allan Manuel, Anna Manuel and Tony Bush sailing 'The Plant Hunter' who showed good pre-Nationals pace in race two to secure a second place.
The real competition starts tomorrow for the Etchells and all around the Hillhead plateau could be seen boats training hard and putting in the final hours on the water ahead of the 'big one.' The coming days will be very interesting for this hotly contested title - one of the most coveted in British sailing.
Seaview Mermaid Class
Down in the relatively flat water of Osborne Bay, the Seaview Mermaid class had a superb day on the water, completing two races with two different winners, underlining just how equally matched these wonderful classic yachts from the design board of Alfred Westmacott in 1922 are.
Racing prowess is rewarded in the Seaview Mermaids and at the end of the day, the fleet has a two-way tie on points at the top with James Crofts securing first place overall by dint of a race win in the second race of the afternoon that was tactically tough in a fading breeze and strong ebb tide. Ben Few-Brown had by far the most consistent day, posting two second places and these two are some three points clear in the standings from Jimbo Mitchell who scored an opening race win and then a sixth in the second race.
Tight racing and some close calls on crosses and lay lines were the order of the day for the Seaview Mermaids but judging by the smiles onboard, the fleet from top to bottom had a great opening day of great racing on the water at the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta.
"A tough but rewarding day"
As the three fleets came ashore to the Cowes Yacht Haven, competitors were greeted by complimentary ice creams, whilst the social scene was well under way with beverages served at that Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary Regatta Race Village. The food stands were busy feeding hungry sailors whilst the dedicated race lounge was busy with sailors swapping tales from on the water. Meanwhile official sponsor Musto was doing brisk business with their limited edition (and very stylish) regatta regalia at their store on the High Street just outside the Cowes Yacht Haven.
Rear Commodore of Sailing at the Royal Thames Yacht Club Tom Partridge, summed up the day saying: "It was a tough but rewarding day for all the fleets. Difficult weather conditions and a brisk sea state greeted the sailors, but it was a tremendous spectacle ahead of the arrival of the rest of the fleets on Friday when the Solent will be awash with sail. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary."
For further details, the Notice of Race, Competitor Safety Key Information and specific Sailing Instructions for courses A, B, C and D, please see the dedicated regatta website, racing.royalthames.com