Whoopee for Whooper at the Cowes Spring Classics
by Ingrid Abery 2 Jun 17:33 BST
29-31 May 2026
"Whoopee for Whooper!" with a double win for the 1939 Laurent Giles one-off Bermudan sloop owned and skippered by Giovanni Belgrano at the Cowes Spring Classics.
A fleet of achingly beautiful yachts enjoyed two days of Solent racing. Based out of Shepards Wharf the annual event marked the start of the season for Classic regattas. Designed as a relaxed regatta for pre-1970s Classic Cruisers, Cruiser/racers, Gaff-rigged boats and Pilot Cutters twenty one lovingly maintained boats lined up across three classes. Classic Meter yachts and the Modern Spirit of Tradition were welcomed and this year saw Dido and Strega join IRC Class 1. Gaff Rigged yachts and Pilot Cutters racing according to OGA Handicaps represented Class 3.
Saturday clung onto the last of the high pressure serving up light wind conditions in the central Solent. With one race in the bag it was time to enjoy the shoreside entertainment. The Best Dressed Crew at the Saturday dinner was presented to Peter Morton and his his Scherzo of Cowes team.
Osborne bay was the setting for the start of day two. The pretty West Solent One Designs battled it out for line honours. Claire Locke claimed third overall while David Heritage's Harlequin snapped at the heels of winner Suvretta to finish in second place. Tightly contested in IRC Class 1 it was five times winner of British Classic Week Giovanni Belgrano and his regular team who not only claimed Class 1 trophy but also the overall regatta winner's silverware.
The Corinthian spirit on-the-water was match by relaxed post-racing atmosphere. Pontoon drinks on the opening evening were followed by a bbq at the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club. Organised by Martin Nott, Cowes-based wooden boat builder and Mary Scott-Jackson of MSJ Events as a much welcomed season-opener to the racing calendar. And judging by the reception both on and off the water this year's was a big hit with owners and crew alike.
Find out more at cowesspringclassics.com