Thanks to Suzanne and Alan Whitewood for this sailing update. Ed
For 50 years a special yacht race from Cowes to Deauville has taken place.
To mark the 50th event the Mayor of Deauville, Philippe Augier met with the Mayor of Cowes, David Walters to start the various classes for this year’s race on the 1st June.
Smaller boats had the first starts from the line at the Royal London YC and these were followed later by larger boats starting off the Royal Yacht Squadron line.
Team effort
A true team effort by all the clubs involved, the Royal Southern Yacht Club, the Royal London Yacht Club, the Junior Offshore Group (JOG), RORC, Deauville Yacht Club and Yacht Club de France, launched the anniversary start in spectacular style.
Prior to starting the races both mayors had visited the Max Aitken Museum in Cowes High Street and completed a tour of the moorings at Cowes Yacht Haven where a number of the boats were moored prior to the race.
Over 100 boats were entered for the race which took a course from Cowes to Ryde before the crossing the Channel to France. Due to a number of larger boats taking part and the fact that this was the 50th running of the race the RORC agreed that the Cervantes Trophy should be presented at the prizegiving in France.
175th anniversary for Royal Southern YC
After their starts, the larger boat fleet headed eastwards towards Gilkicker Point, where they easily overhauled the White Sail fleet, led by Royal Southern member, Bill Blain in Batfish V.
Royal Southern YC are celebrating their 175th anniversary this year and this race is one of many in which members from that club are taking part.
Spectacular sight for all
Spinnakers were the order of the day for the IRC classes creating a spectacular sight as the boats headed on a straight course to Deauville. The majority of competitors were due to arrive in France by lunchtime the following day.
For 48 years Cowes has been twinned with Deauville and residents from both towns undertake exchange visits.
Chairman of the Cowes-Deauville twinning association, Barry Clarke was a guest at a lunch held at the Royal London YC prior to the race.
