Cowes: It was a game of patience, luck and perseverance for day three at British Classic Week, where sailors kept an eye out for the slightest zephyr of wind to help them across the glassy race course.
Classes 1 and 2 merged into one as they descended (some not always facing the right direction having been pushed side-ways and sometimes backwards) down on to the finish line.
It was a similar story for Classes 3 and 4, who sailed a slightly shorter first running leg down the Island shore to Cowes Yacht Haven to round the mark to starboard. It was then a race against a turning tide to reach across to Yacht Data Bank and round the mark to port, where both classes bunched together in the merest breaths of wind.
The larger yachts crept through the shifts to make the mark and get back to the RYS line. The smaller yachts gallantly battled the tide, with some digging in to get there and others calling it a day.
Spirit 52 Oui Fling persevered to win Class 1, classic sloop Lak II took first place in Class 2, and Clyde Linear 30 Mikado won Class 3. After two back-to-back wins from Suvretta in Class 4, today was Kim Holman designed Stiletto’s day on the water and she took the win for Class 4.
A tough day on the water, but spirits were rallied upon getting back to the dock with the thought of the evening’s Pontoon Party, complete with live music and cocktails.
Full results: https://www.rys.org.uk/yachting/results
– British Classic Yacht Club
