Cowes Classic Day Report; July 9th 2023

Published 14:12 on 27 Jul 2023

On Sunday morning at 6.15am the 7 competitors, safety boat and race officer team assembled on the SVYC staging for the first race of the day. 

The wind Gods had other plans and so we decided to tow the boats down to Cowes. On arrival we assembled off the breakwater and prepared ourselves for race 1. 

With the wind in the southeast this was a classic windward leeward from one end of the breakwater to the other. Tide was slowly building .. and so was the wind, although it has swung round to the south. 

Race 2 we had a beat to the breakwater, then a reach down off the Cowes green, followed by a run back to the finish line. Tides were proving tricky. Technically complicated, in light airs, and strong tides it was a Cowes classic.  At this point we decided to relocate to Osborne Bay, looking for less tide, and more wind. We managed to find this and had a lovely race 3 with 10-12 knots of wind. A great race, with the amazing setting of Osborne House in the background. 

By now Robert Holbrook was winning, with Giles Thomas coming second and then both Charlie Proddow and Colin Simmonds vying for third. It was spicing up. 

The final race of the day was the passage race back to Seaview, about 7-9 nautical miles from where we were on Osborne Bay. The wind was building and having started out in 13-14 knots, by the time we reached Ryde Sands the wind was 15-17 knots. Getting the tide right was critical versus cutting the corner over Ryde sands. Robert and Colin went the longer way around but was far quicker with the last of the fair tide. 

Overall after four races and one discard the winner was Robert Holbrook, with Giles Thomas second and Charlie Proddow third. 

Great fun event and a lovely way to start the season. Many many thanks to the race officer and safety support boat team