Sonar Europeans at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club

The first Sonar European Championship, organised by the Cowes Corinthian YC from May 24-26, saw excellent racing with the result in doubt until the final day.

On day one the 14 entries enjoyed three races in a south-westerly Force 3-4 with three different race winners. The windward/leeward courses set by Chief Race Officer, Mike Brinton, included a spreader mark and a leeward gate and were set on the Brambles bank where tidal influences were at a minimum. By the end of the first day, Philip Thwaites' ‘Sonnet’ with Pete Newlands on the helm held the lead with one first place and two seconds. Pre-series favourite, Paul Bowen aboard ‘Puff Pirate’ started with a win in the first race but then scored a fifth and a fourth. The third race win went to James Day's ‘Yachts & Yachting’ while ‘Scintillate’ sailed by Richard Palmer scored consistent top four results.

Day 2 brought a race officer's worst nightmare and the first race was shortened to a single lap after a major wind shift turned the windward leg into a fetch. This race was won by Paul Bowen, ahead of Andy Cassell and Richard Palmer. A long postponement followed, with a squall of 20 knots of wind and a severe hailstorm sweeping through the fleet. In the second race Richard Palmer took his first race win with Paul Bowen in second and Steve Sleight and Sara Combes' ‘Sinful’ in third. A third race was started but had to be abandoned.

Going into the third and final day there was still everything to fight for and the fleet enjoyed four excellent races in a Force 2-4 and sunshine. ‘Yachts and Yachting’ took the first gun in race six and Andy Cassell in ‘Dolphin’ scored his first victory in race eight, but Paul Bowen and crew turned in a superb performance with two firsts and two seconds to win the series. Richard Palmer scored two seconds to grab second overall from Philip Thwaites' ‘Sonnet’. After nine races the two were tied on points but because ‘Scintillate’ beat ‘Sonnet’ in the final race it was ‘Scintillate’ that took second overall. ‘Josh’ sailed by Pete Matthews took the prize for first charter boat. All the competitors enjoyed the racing which was notable for its closeness. In most of the races the first six boats finished within seconds of each other and the standard of racing in the fleet is obviously continuing to increase.

Overall Results: