It was a week of two halves in terms of the weather at this year’s British Classic Week hosted by the British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC), but when the results were in it was 6mR Sioma (small yacht winner) and 8mR Anne Sophie (large yacht winner) who took home the overall regatta trophies. 

Two days of wet and wild racing in the early part of the regatta preceded lighter airs and champagne sailing to complete the five-race series with race management by Race Officer Peter Saxton and his team from the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS).

Regatta Chairman Giovanni Belgrano commented, “It was an awesome week and some of the best sailing I have had in my life.  The race management team did an exceptional job giving us five varied races in challenging conditions.  The camaraderie and socialising on the dock matched the racing, it was fantastic to see everyone making friends and sharing their beautiful yachts.”

Following a feeder race from the Royal Solent Yacht Club’s Taittinger Regatta and a welcome BBQ at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, racing kicked off on day one with the Forts Race sponsored by Spirit Yachts.  In the evening, regatta guests enjoyed drinks and canapés at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Day 2 brought 1.5m+ waves and 25 knots of wind, so the scheduled Around the Island race was replaced by passage racing in the Solent, sponsored by Global Forecaster.  Once back on the dock, wet and weary sailors were greeted with cold beers from Bainbridge International.

By day 3, high pressure delivered sunshine and light winds as day broke for the Female Helm Race sponsored by Raymarine.  Following the traditional Concours d’Elegance Parade past the RYS, all classes set off on a fleet start for the 8.8nm course in the western Solent.  Once ashore, the party started with post-racing drinks from Raymarine followed by the infamous Classic Boat Pontoon Party with drinks from Hattiers Rum and Dartmouth Gin.

Image: Chris Brown

The good weather continued into day 4, which brought champagne sailing conditions for the Long Inshore Race sponsored by OneSails GBR, followed by a Nyetimber sparkling wine bar on the dock by Pantaenius Yacht Insurance.

Results from Race 4 meant Spirit R52 Happy Forever beat rival Spirit C72 Gwenhyfar II by just 45 seconds leaving the Class 1 win all to play for between these two yachts on the final day of the regatta.  In Class 2, 8mR Anne Sophie took her second win in two days.  S&S sloop Sunstone also took her second win of the week to set up a final day clash with Giovanni Belgrano’s Whooper for second and third places.  In Class 4, Sioma II made it two wins from four races across the week.

After a final day’s close racing in light winds from a committee boat start, the results were in.  Overall class wins after some closely contested racing went to Spirit R52 Happy Forever in Class 1, 8mR Anne Sophie in Class 2, S&S Swan 36 Anna Mai in Class 3, and 6mR Sioma in Class 4.

Having sailed hard in the big winds in the early part of the week and then dominating in the light breeze in the second half of the regatta, it was the Metre yachts that triumphed overall with 8mR Anne Sophie from Germany winning the regatta’s Large Yacht of the Week and 6mR Sioma winning Small Yacht of the Week.

At the end of the week Birgit Brandes from 8mR Anne Sophie said, “Thank you for the warm welcome, the wonderful racing, the perfect organisation, and of course the prizes!”

Dates for next year’s British Classic Week are 6th – 11th July 2025.

 

Image: Chris Brown

Full list of 2024 winners

Je Ne Sais Quoi prizes:

Class 1: Crusade

Class 2: Anne Sophie

Class 3: Sunstone & Whooper

Class 4: Sabrina

Gaffers: Snippet

Motor Boat: Maudorces

Overall Je Ne Sais Quoi winner: Harlequin

 

In Need of a Stiff Drink Trophy donated by Spirit Yachts: Crusade (for an engine fire onboard)

Best Presented New Entrant, Per Ardua ad Mare trophy: Sheevra

Forts Race sponsored by Spirit Yachts: Classes 1 & 2 overall winner: Happy Forever

West Solent passage race sponsored by Global Forecaster: Gwenhyfar II

 

Female Helm race sponsored by Raymarine:

Class 1: Gwenhyfar II

Class 2: Anne Sophie

Class 3: Anna Mai

Class 4: Timoa

Gaffer: Dorothy

Overall Female Helm Winner: Anne Sophie

 

Long Inshore Race sponsored by OneSails GBR:

Class 4 and Gaffers: Sioma II

Class 3: Sunstone

Classes 1 & 2: Anne Sophie

 

Highest % female crew: Quailo III

Youngest crew member: Florence Spooner on Snippet (13yrs)

Highest % family crew: Arctic Skua

 

Overall Class winners:

Class 1:

3rd: Crusade

2nd: Gwenhyfar II

1st: Happy Forever

 

Class 2:

3rd: Helen

2nd: Cetewayo

1st: Anne Sophie

 

Class 3:

3rd: Whooper

2nd: Sunstone

1st: Anna Mai

 

Class 4:

3rd: Timoa

2nd: Enchanted

1st: Sioma

 

Highest Placed Gaffer: Eilun

Highest Placed Spirit overall: Happy Forever

Small Yacht of the Week: Sioma

Large Yacht of the Week: Anne Sophie

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