Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this latest sailing news. Ed
Amongst those taking part were Island business man Tim Blackman who campaigns aboard the Bermudan Yawl ‘Infanta’. Tim acquired her in 2006 when he was Admiral of the British Classic Yacht Club.
Another Bermudan Yawl taking part in the Panerai Regatta was ‘Arqyll’ built in 1948 by Olin Stephens and owned by TV personality Griff Rhys Jones, who also owns the sloop ‘Undina’. Some years ago ‘Argyll’ underwent a restoration supervised by the recently deceased Ed Burnett, a leading traditional yacht designer.
“Let the ladies do all the work”
After a slow start in the competition for Class 2 ‘Argyll’ took second place in the Ladies race on Wednesday and Griff was heard to say, with amusement to all those concerned, that he was taking a back seat from now on and letting the ladies do all the work if the boat does well with their skills.
‘Argyll’ is also entered for the RYS International Regatta taking place in Cowes and the Rolex Fastnet Race which starts from Cowes on 16th August.
From Morning Cloud II to Opposition
Competing in the regatta as a sloop was Opposition. Morning Cloud II was launched in the spring of 1971 and built by Clare Lallow’s yard on the Isle of Wight to a Sparkman and Stephens design.
The mission for this second yacht to have the name Morning Cloud, then owned and raced by Prime Minister Edward Heath, was to compete as part of the British team in that year’s Admiral’s Cup and she helped the team to victory.
After two years this yacht was sold and renamed Opposition by its new owner Tony Morgan. In 2007 she returned to Lallow’s yard for restoration. She is now competing under the ownership of Jamie Matheson from Scotland.
Weather let the fleet down
After five days of exciting and challenging racing at Panerai British Classic Week 2015 the weather sadly let the fleet down on the final day.
Strong winds and torrential rain forced the abandonment of the sixth and final race of the series.
Oldest boat in regatta
With straight wins in both Class 4 and the combined Fleet races, the 1897 William Fife III designed Cork Harbour One Design ‘Jap’, the oldest boat in the regatta and at just over 30’ one of the smallest, was named Panerai British Classic Week Champion 2015. The second time her name has been added to this illustrious trophy, the first being in 2012.
‘Jap’ was sailed by owner David Sherriff, Martin Payne, Toby Mumford, Lauren Fry, Mark Yeabsley, Olympic Rowing Gold Medallist Zach Purchase, and with Paralympic Gold Medallist Andy Cassell helming all the points series races and Admiral’s Cup sailor Harold Cudmore guest helming on Thursday.
At the Gala Prize Giving Dinner Griff Rhys Jones, had the audience in stitches with anecdotes of classic yacht ownership.
His analogy that “Sailing a classic boat is like taking a piece of Chippendale furniture and throwing it into the sea, and then steering other bits of Chippendale furniture within inches of it.” particularly appealed.
Image: © Chris Boynton
