Cowes Classic Week and Two New Captains.

Published 17:08 on 17 Jul 2023

There were six entrants from SVYC members to sail Seaview Mermaids in Cowes Classic Week 2023, organised by the Royal London Yacht Club. The event had many classes, including two beautiful classic 6-metres, one of which was helmed by Shirley Robertson, as well as a large fleet of the elegant Swallows.

We set off on a passage race on the Sunday afternoon and with some close racing in sunny conditions were moored up and back by RIB in Seaview 3 hours later. Crew ages ranged by over 75 years. Sail plan was full main, jibs and spinnakers allowed throughout, which all worked well in the prevailing conditions.

Our first day of organised racing took place from a committee boat near the mainland shore, with the first race a "sausage" course around laid marks one mile apart in fresh conditions. Our second race took us around channel marks covering a bigger area with the legendary Cowes tides having a bigger effect and the finish near our moorings in Cowes.

Après sail was under the awning back in the Seaview clubhouse and culminated in an "all-you-can-eat" pizza night.

The format for Day 2 was similar: a laid marks race and finally one using channel marks combined into our passage race home.

This final passage race was in freshening conditions (20-25kts) and criss-crossing the Solent several times. While most of us were a little concerned about the wind-strength/spinnaker conditions most boats flew them without problem, encouraged by the tight competition. Our Mermaids were at hull-speed with occasional surfing. On the leg up to Ryde Sands post we had all forgotten it coincided with low tide and two of our boats spectacularly grounded, although without damage to boats or crew. We got back to our moorings in Seaview soon after 3.00pm

The organisation afloat and ashore was excellent: the boats beautifully prepared by Nick and his team and suffered no damage. 

Ashore our new class Princess of Cowes, Anna Cockel,l had arranged a great program of evening social events, starting with reserved tables (thank you Marcus), the pizza night on Monday and then on Tuesday the awards ceremony when we were all ashore and dry. First prize going to Noel Dobbs (a Seaview Classic) for a clear series victory, with Ian Prideaux runner-up. Raymond Simonds and Addie Pinkster were also appointed as the Clubs new captains of Land-Yachts,  in honour of their grounding. 

This awards ceremony was followed by an amazing 3-course dinner in the mermaid room organised by Claire (amazing cheese boards!)

Cowes Classic is a great alternative for those that don't want a eight days of full Cowes Week. Next year, it would be great if we could get a bigger fleet there for Classic Week to give mermaid sailors great racing and a more varied perspective compared to our usual sailing off Seaview. So mark your diaries for 8-9th July 2024.  

Robin Maccaw, photos by Simon Edwards