BCYC Regatta 2007

Click to view features:

* Regatta overview
* Ladies day
* Sail4Cancer press release

* Casino Royale party
* Party round up
* Regatta Photographers

Regatta overview

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We would like to thank Chris Boynton for the use of his fantastic photography in our Photo Albums. For more great images and to contact Chris click here.

The British Classic Yacht Club Regatta finished in style on Saturday when over 50 yachts in 5 classes completed a week of racing and rallying in the Solent. The meaning of the word ‘classic’ in yachting has undergone some radical changes in recent years. All the yachts are IRC rated and race competitively in class, most completely restored to an immaculate and highly competitive level, only the perfect varnish work and bronze winches hinting at there being any other reason than winning, to own one.

Marc Busschots from Belgium secured the class 1 trophy in the Metre Class when his 1936-built 8 metre Ilderim gained two 1sts and two 2nds to beat Andy King’s Gluckauf into second place. In the Spirit Yacht Class, whose incredibly elegant yet state of the art boats, are mostly only one or two years old, a fierce duel between two Spirit 46s, Sean Macmillan’s Fight of Ufford and Tom Hill’s Dido resulted in a 2 point difference, with Dido triumphing finally.

Class 3 was typified by the most characteristic of classic boats where the larger of the yachts were to be found. The likes of 78ft ketch Rona which was helmed by Ellen MacArthur on one particular day, was pitted against the 1960s Admiral’s Cup legend Noryema made famous by Ron Amey then, and now in the hands of Patrice Vazeuze, while comedian Griff Rhys Jones’s beloved Undina sparred with Tim Blackman’s Infanta.. Brand new to classic racing was Sinbad of Abersoch, collected from her previous owners only a fortnight before by Adam Gosling, who scooped the silverware in class 4. Class 5 was won by Jonathan Dyke’s Cereste, which also by the nature of having the lowest points, was the overall regatta winner.

The week kicked off with a clockwise race around the Isle of Wight which saw every type of weather from thunder and lightening with torrential rain to flat calm, the latter of which got the better of 50% of the fleet off Yarmouth, who ended up retiring. A handful managed to pull away including Stiren which achieved Line honours. A convincing lead held by Strega was dashed, when she hit Black Rock and finally had to resort to motoring offl

In the Solent races winds ranged from extremely light to in excess of 30 knots.

Every class used their competitive spirit to the maximum as the race courses provided the yachts with testing decisions through the tides and areas of pressure - there was a lot to gain on the tactical decisions. Despite the conditions losses were minimum, perhaps the most lamentable being the loss of the top of a 100 year old mast by Corrie who despite this completed a race with a reefed main.

Yachts came from all over Europe and beyond, to represent a class which is growing at an incredible pace. The British Classic Yacht Club Regatta, now an annual event looks set to become even bigger next year.

Click here to view the race results.

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Casino Royale party

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One of the many memorable parties of the regatta was the SeaDragon Casino Royale Crew Ball. Another record for the BCYC – over 300 people partied the night away at The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.

Gassan Diamonds sponsored a champagne reception – 150 glasses of champagne were sold…and three of them contained real diamonds. Amazing odds and three very happy people – Clive Emerson of Lutine scooping the prize £1,500 diamond. Sales of champagne raised £450 for Sail4Cancer.

Fantastic costumes in the true style of James Bond were captured on camera as every guest took their turn on the red carpet – photos by Erik Russell. Lots of suave classic James Bonds, interspersed with a Blofeld, Odd Job or two, scuba diver, M etc. .. not to mention the glamorous ladies.

In true BCYC spirit, everyone partied away either dancing to the fantastic Acclerators, gaming on the roulette tables or catching up on the days racing in the bar. The sign of a good party?.. when the balloons & James Bond silhouettes are still being found on the pontoons two days afterwards!

How do we better this next year? Ideas please to Catriona at ecwhart@yahoo.co.uk

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Ladies day

Images to follow shortly.

After the success of the inaugural ladies day race in 2006, expectations were running high for 2007. We managed to lay on a perfect summers day for the informal racing – sunshine and a good breeze.

An hour or two before the start it became evident that not only had some been planning their outfits for a while, but also any Cowes charity shop had been well and truly raided! A fabulous array of outfits ranging from classic Edwardian ladies dress to some rather worrying drag outfits sported by some of the more masculine crew!

After a hard days racing in Sunday’s Classic Round the Island race, everyone appreciated the opportunity to reach back and forth across the Solent for a couple of hours, the fleet completely mixed up and providing spectacular photo opportunities for the many photographers out on the water.

See www.beken.co.uk for on water shots.

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Party roundup

Images to follow shortly.

Whilst the Casino Royale Crew Ball may have been the highlight during the week for some, there were a huge number of social events which surely came close!

The week started with our traditional drinks reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron – the sun even managing to make an appearance as everyone enjoyed drinks and catching up with each other against this spectacular Solent backdrop.

A more informal evening on Thelma VI rounded off Ladies Day. Thelma’s reputation as the ultimate party boat had spread and soon the party was spilling onto a sinking pontoon. With sufficient food and drinks on offer the party continued well into the evening despite a late rain shower – Gary & Wendy’s famous hospitality at the forefront as ever.

The pontoons were again under water on Friday as Spot Red Publishing hosted a champagne party sponsored by Moet & Chandon. This year, the artist & publisher Michael Frith supported the regatta by presenting a copy of 'YACHT' as one of the Round the Island Prizes as well as throwing this memorable party on board Quiver and Lutine, with dockside overspill. Again the weather was kind, the rain clearing with minutes to spare and the sun emerging to provide a spectacular sunset as everyone enjoyed the generous and lively Spot Red hospitality. See http://spotred.co.uk/yacht.html for details of how to get hold of your copy of YACHT.

Finally, the prize giving dinner on Saturday at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. A fast paced evening with a huge number of prizes to hand out thanks to all our generous sponsors – SeaDragon, Harken, Sandeman Yacht Company, Traditional Shipwright services, McMurdo, Spot Red Publishing, SLAM.

Tim Blackman, however, started the evening's presentations with the usual crunchy bar routine – a crunchy bar is awarded to any yacht having gone aground during the week. Again all records were surpassed and nine chocolate bars were handed out, including one to Ellen McArthur sailing on Rona for the day. Essential light relief was again provided by Griff Rhys Jones part way through the proceedings.

And finally, for another year it was all over. Many more friends made, good times had both on the water and off. The quality of the regatta keeps improving and much of that is to do with the support of the sponsors and most importantly those that come along each year to support it. Plans are already afoot for 2008 which we hope will be even bigger and better – watch this space.

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Regatta Photographers

A number of photographers covered the 2007 regatta - many finding it difficult to split their time between the 6 Metre Worlds and our regatta. Please see the links below:

Erik Russell - photos both on the water and of the Casino Royale Party - www.erikrussell.co.uk

Nichola Aigner - photos both on the water and at the social events. See the link for Griff's spectacular broach captured on camera
www.nicholaaigner.com

Kathy Mansfield - www.pbase.com/kathymansfield

Beken - some great shots of Ladies Day racing - www.beken.co.uk

Chris Boyton - our website photographer. See the website soon for more photos from Chris. Contact details at www.minigallery.co.uk/Chris_Boynton/

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