Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary Regatta Day 4
by Magnus Wheatley 14 Jun 19:34 BST
11-15 June 2025
Ran V111, SWE on day 4 of the Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary Regatta © Paul Wyeth /
www.pwpictures.com
A brisk south-westerly breeze, with gusts above 20 knots at times, made for challenging top-end conditions for all the fleets on a very busy Solent for the Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary Regatta.
Principal Race Officer, Tim Hancock, briefed competitors at the dedicated Race Village in the Cowes Yacht Haven ahead of racing and forewarned of crowded racetracks, despite their being five dedicated course areas, with many classes converging and over-lapping.
The spectacle, however, was extraordinary, and when the Classic and Cruiser yachts got racing under way in the lee of Osborne House off the Peel Bank, they created a sight worthy of a picture postcard, thundering up towards Cowes lee-bowed on the flood tide and taking advantage of the wind bends around the Norris headland and beyond. The Cruiser Class are competing for one of the oldest and most coveted trophies in sailing with the famous '1776 Cumberland Trophy' on the line.
For the Classics, Cruisers and Seaview Mermaids, courses were laid marks of the central Solent whilst to the north, Race Officer Stuart Childerley set windward/leeward courses for the IRC Zero, IRC 1 & IRC 2 fleets, stretching the width of the Solent.
Down on the Hillhead plateau to the east of the Brambles Bank, the one-design classes were enjoying choppy conditions and persistent breeze that created the closest racing of the week, with the well-drilled teams benefitting in the conditions and seeing the cream rise to the top of the standings in the various championships under way.
One winner however was crowned this afternoon with Russell Peters, Greg Wells and Zeb Elliott becoming RS Elite National Champions after completing their series and putting in the most consistent of scoring over 10 races and after a final race shoot-out for the title (full report below). Congratulations to the 'Riff Raff' team.
Tonight sees the sold-out RTYC 250th Anniversary Dinner with a drinks reception held by sponsor Nyetimber, alongside the equally sold-out Crew Party with late-night entertainment provide by Olympic Gold medallist 'DJ Mark Covell'- the undoubted king of the regatta DJ scene.
Out on the water this afternoon, competitors and spectators were treated to a water-arch display by Royal Thames Yacht Club affiliate, the '17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC' - a specialist unit of the UK Armed Forces, just as many of the fleets were arriving back to a very busy Medina. A fitting greeting after a tough day on the water for the fleets.
Classics 1 Fleet
Sir Keith Mills's stunning 75-foot staysail schooner 'Viveka' was the stand-out performer in the glamourous Classics 1 fleet, winning both races with style today from this three-strong division. Rosie Frost's McGruer 55 Classic 'Cuilaun' posted two second places today ahead of Patrick Caiger-Smith's 'Sonata' that completed the scoring with two third places today. The sight of the mighty 'Viveka,' truly a restoration marvel have been refitted in 2020, has been a real treat for the Royal Thames 250th Anniversary Regatta and with two more races planned for Sunday, the Classics 1 division looks like going Sir Keith's way.
Classics 2 Fleet
A battle royale was set to ensue between the traditional International H-Boat of Wight Wedding of Craig & Emma Dymock competing against the highly modified H-Boat 'Woof' of Jo Richards. After two races today, honours were shared with a win and a second place apiece between the two and with 'Wight Wedding' winning the last race, they top the standings on countback with both boats tied on three points apiece. However, after racing, Woof declared a retirement from race one leaving Wight Wedding with a clean sweep of race wins and looking in a strong position for the overall win.
The fight for the podium will intensify tomorrow with the Andrew Gilmour's Stella MOD ' Timoa' and Richard & Ursula Hollis's International H-Boat 'Warrior' also tied with seven points apiece after both boats posted fourth and third places today. Classics 2 is shaping up to be a real tussle for the silverware on Sunday.
RS Elite Class (National Championship)
Russell Peters, sailing alongside Greg Wells and Zeb Elliott on 'Riff Raff' successfully defended their RS Elite National Championship title after a thrilling conclusion to what has been a remarkably close championship, full of high drama right to the very end. After the UFD disqualification of Joe Llewellyn's 'Team Musto' it was a three-way shoot-out for the title between the 'Riff Raff' team, Barry Parkin & David Nicholls sailing 'Sapphire' and Ossie Stewart sailing 'More T Vicar.' After an opening 17th place in the first race, Peters knew that he needed a simply huge performance to retain the title and came out in race nine full of fire to take the race win and then do the maths for the overall. With Ossie Stewart scoring a second in race eight and a fourth in race nine, he pulled into challenger position but a second place in race ten was enough to secure the RS Elite National Championships for the 'Riff Raff' team. A stunningly consistent performance over the ten races, Peters sailed brilliantly at times and saw off the challengers to record another very popular win. Ossie Stewart finished as runner-up whilst Barry Parkin & David Nicholls claimed the third spot on the podium. Joe Llewellyn posted two third places today to cement fourth overall and will be ruing the two UFD's, one to count, that blemished his overall scorecard. Great, tight racing as ever in this ultra-demanding fleet.
Etchells Class (National Championship)
It is getting desperately tight at the top of the Etchells class for the overall National Championship title with Chris Hampton onboard 'Tango' sailing with Paul Childs and Ben Cornish, putting the hammer down today and putting pressure on Andrew Lawson sailing with Angus Galloway and William Russell on 'No Dramas' after recording two bullets and a second place.
The defending National Champion, Hampton, now sits just one point behind Royal Thames YC member Andrew Lawson and this rivalry looks set to go all the way to Sunday's conclusion and the final two races of the series. The top two have gapped the fleet with regards points, but making the podium is David Maclean's 'Ada' squeaking ahead of Conrielle Leprince from the Greig City Academy in fourth overall. Tough racing today for the Etchells in the conditions and plenty of tired bodies shoreside but tomorrow will see the National Championships won and there's plenty to play for in this thrilling series battle.
Tideway J70 National Championship
Proving what a superb one-design class the J/70's are, so far in the regatta only one team has won more than one race and with a large fleet of 33 boats competing for the Tideway J/70 National Championships, it is consistency that is winning overall. Martin Dent, sailing 'Jelvis,' had a barnstorming day in the breeze and increasing sea-state recording his second win of the regatta in race five and posting a second and fifth to go three points clear at the top of the, very tight, standings.
Alastair Hall, sailing 'Calypso' came out of the blocks swinging today, scoring a race win and then following up with a fourth and second to keep the pressure on for the overall title. Overnight leader Royal Thames YC member William Edwards sailing 'Sardonyx' secured a thrilling race win in the second flight today and with a fourth and a discarded ninth, sits in third overall just two points clear of Nicholas Griffiths sailing 'Spencer.' Racing was tight, fast and at times furious in the J/70 fleet, but a pecking order is starting to emerge, and the top four boats look like the ones to beat on Super Sunday for the overall Tideway National Championships. Three more races to come to decide one of the most coveted titles in British yachting.
Dragon Class (Southern Area Championship)
The Dragon class were quite simply a pleasure to watch today out on the Hillhead plateau with some desperately close racing amongst the front-runners. Jono Brown sailing 'Fit Chick' was the winner on the day scoring two race wins and a second place but overall, it's Graham Bailey sailing 'Bluebottle' that leads the Southern Area Championships after discard by just a single point. These two, look set to go all the way for the title but certainly not out of contention is Owen Pay on 'Furious' who sits just a couple of points off second with a fifth and two third places today. Some slick boat-handling was observed by these top three boats who enjoyed considerable margins mid-races over the rest of the eight-strong fleet who ventured out today.
Daring Class (Cory Cup)
After yesterday's warm-up races for the Daring Class Cory Cup trophy, today saw a larger fleet on the start-line with ten boats venturing out in conditions that the Daring Class revel in. With today's two races counting towards the coveted Cory Cup, it was Rob Bottomley's 'Doublet' that put in the most consistent of performance, winning both races and establishing a commanding lead overall. The podium places could well come down to the wire though with Chris Preston's 'Destroyer' currently in second overall after posting two third places today, ahead by just one point from Mike Greville's 'Darling' who in turn is just one point ahead of Josh Peckham's 'Dauntless.' As ever with the Daring class, expect the unexpected and Sunday could well throw up surprises in moderate conditions.
RS21 (Round 3 UK & Ireland Cup)
It was tough sailing for the RS21 fleet out on the Hillhead plateau, especially with the tide turning to produce wind against tide building chop but acing the conditions best once again was Liam Willis's 'Dark & Stormy' from the Royal Lymington Yacht Club that recorded three stunning race wins to go clear at the top counting four race wins overall and discarding a second place. Alex Newton-Southon, sailing 'RS Electric' showed equally consistent results scoring three second places today and after discard sits five points off 'Dark & Stormy.' The race for the final podium place is intensifying with Fin n Morris, sailing 'Not Sure,' just one point ahead after discard over Nigel Rolfe's 'It's 5'o'clock Somewhere.' All to play for going into Sunday but Liam Willis look good for the points in this round three of the UK & Ireland RS21 Cup.
SB20 Class
Consistency was the key today in the SB20 fleet that saw six boats compete on the Hillhead plateau in conditions that rewarded boat-handling skills over raw speed. Continuing his fine form from Saturday, Mark Gillett sailing "Twenty PB II' posted two second places and a third to follow up on his double race wins of Friday to lead the fleet overall by two points. Giving close chase is class stalwart Charlie Whelan on 'Breaking Bod' who opened his account today with a race win and a second place, before scoring a fifth that is currently his discard after five races. The stand-out performance of the day however went to Chris Williams sailing 'Absolute Carnage' who didn't compete on Friday but scored two race wins and a third today and now sits just one point behind Phil Tilley's 'Tƒn Gwyllt' with all to play for on Sunday for the overall crown.
Seaview Mermaid
Some of the tightest racing anywhere at the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 250th Anniversary Regatta, the Seaview Mermaid class were revelling in the brisk conditions east of the Norris point. After two tough races today, Jimbo Mitchell sailing 'Halluf' and James Crofts sailing 'Adastra' are tied at the top with both boats scoring a race win and a second place between them. With both boats discarding their worst score, Mitchell sits atop the standings by dint of a better discard but there is all to play for going into Sunday for the overall Seaview Mermaid title. Best of the rest and making the podium by just one point after discard is Ben Few-Brown sailing 'Miranda' and leading a tightly packed fleet giving chase behind.
Sonar Class
With the afternoon weather deteriorating as the westerly wind opposed the ebb tide, Principal Race Officer Tim Hancock called 'AP over A' and abandoned racing for the class, sending them back to shore.
IRC National Championships (Classes: IRC Zero/IRC1/IRC2/IRC3/IRC4) please see: www.rorc.og/news for full race reports for the individual classes.
"A classic Solent day of top-class racing..."
Tom Partridge, Vice Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, was full of admiration. For the spectacle and festival of sailing out on the Solent today, saying: "It was a classic Solent day - the sort of sailing that the true racers enjoy and it was extremely impressive to watch the fleets and the level of sailing right across them from the Classics to the Cruisers to the Admiral's Cup teams and the one-designs, it truly was a superb day on the water. My thanks as ever go to the competitors for their understanding as the race management teams worked their magic to provide fair racing for all the classes who at times were overlapped on a very busy central Solent."
Racing continues on Sunday for all classes, minus the RS Elites who have completed their series on Saturday, in the Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary Regatta with the westerly airflow set to stay and provide a thrilling conclusion to what has already been a highlight of the Solent summer season and a fitting celebration and festival of sail.
For further details, the Notice of Race, Competitor Safety Key Information and Sailing Instructions please see the dedicated regatta website, racing.royalthames.com