Press Releases of The British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta 2010

Despite forecasts of rain showers and light winds, the weather gods smiled once again today on the crews competing at the British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta on day four, allowing two fantastic races to be completed for all classes. As the classic fleet arrived at the starting area this morning, right on cue the skies cleared and a pleasant eight to ten knot breeze sprang up, enabling racing to get underway on schedule at eleven o’clock.

At this stage in the regatta the top slots in almost all the classes were too close to call and any crews with aspirations of a class win were painfully aware that their two results today could make or break their regatta. In Class 1 the Spirit 54 Sloop, Soufriere and the One-Off Timber Sloop, Meteor, were tied on points at the top. In Class 2 the 1957 built, 49 foot Sloop, Cetewayo, held a three-point lead over the 1963 Yawl, Stiren. The Class 3 leader Mikado, a 1904 Clyde 30 Linear, had the benefit of a seven point cushion between her and the second placed 1974 41 foot S&S Bermudan Sloop, Golden Fleece. It could not have been much closer in Class 4 with the 1897 Cork Harbour One Design Gaff Cutter, Jap, holding a single point lead over the 1937, 30 Square Metre, Erida.

With so much at stake throughout the entire regatta fleet, it is perhaps no surprise that the start lines for both of the day’s races were noticeably more competitive than on previous days. That said, more than a few of the crews also looked to be suffering the after effects of having over extended themselves on the dance floor at the spectacular Caribbean Crew Party on the previous evening. Happily for them the best-known hangover cure in Cowes is two bracing races around the Solent and that is exactly what the regatta delivered. Principal Race Officer Tony Lovell wisely set his courses primarily in the Western Solent giving the classic racing yachts a relatively uncluttered race track for almost the entire day. Racing was characteristically tight in both races with close one-on-one struggles witnessed in all fleets and no quarter appearing to be given on port and star! board crosses, or at the often crowded mark roundings.

Although in separate classes, the two 12 Metres, Italia (1985) and Wings (1937), took advantage of a combined start for Class 1 & 2, to indulge in thier own personal match races. Given the age difference, these two boats were surprisingly evenly matched, with Italia holding the advantage upwind but Wings appearing to have a distinct edge downwind. Tony Langley, who had chartered Italia for the event in order to give the classic regatta scene a try, clearly loved his 12 Metre experience and was full of praise for the crew of Wings. ‘It’s amazing how similarly the boats perform over these sorts of courses. The Wings guys have a beautiful boat and they know just exactly how to get the best out of her. We have to give her several minutes per hour and on some legs we just can’t shake her off.’ Asked if his experience at his first classic regatta has giv! en him a taste for more, he replied ‘Definitely. We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves this week and I’m sure this won’t be our last appearance at this regatta.’

Today’s races have done little to separate the top contenders, leaving tomorrow’s single final race as a critical decider in each of the fleets. In the first race Italia romped away to a comprehensive Class 1 win over Soufriere, with Meteor keeping their challenge alive with a third. Class two saw Wings edge out Cetewayo in the first race and in Class 3 the Bermudan Masthead Sloop, A Day At The Races, claimed victory. Meanwhile in Class 4 the first race of the day went to the 1938 Shoreham 10-Tonner, Cereste.

In this afternoon’s race Cereste had to settle for second place behind the 1958 Bermudan Sloop, Danegeld who took the Class 4 win. Class 3 went to the 1971 Auxiliary Sloop, Opposition, by the narrowest of margins; just nine seconds on corrected time separate her from the 1963 Sloop, Clarion of Wight in second. Cetewayo reversed the results of the Class 2 morning race by claiming victory over Wings and in Class 1 Italia took her second win of the day with Meteor in second gaining precious points on their rival Soufriere who could only manage a fourth.

Racing at the British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta 2010 concludes tomorrow with a single race to decide the trophies.

Media Information:
Daily results and press releases will be posted on the official regatta website at: www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/regatta

Daily press releases along with editorial free low-resolution images will be issued by email each evening.

High-resolution editorial free images via the official regatta photographer Mark Lloyd’s website: http://lloydimagesgallery.photoshelter.com/gallery/British-Classic-Yacht-Club-Panerai-Cowes-Regatta-2010

Daily VNR’s will be available on request. Please contact the Regatta Press Officer Justin Chisholm.

In addition, daily video roundups will be posted on www.sail.tv each evening.

Other media enquiries should be directed to:
Justin Chisholm
Regatta Press Officer
justin@justinchisholmsolutions.com

Martha Williamson
Sidhu & Simon Communications (For Panerai)
martha@sidhuandsimon.com
0207 491 9934

ABOUT THE BRITISH CLASSIC YACHT CLUB

The British Classic Yacht Club was formed in 2001 to provide a congenial environment for owners and other classic yacht enthusiasts to share experiences and enjoy each other's company. Affiliated to the RYA, the BCYC strives to represent the interests of classic yacht owners and has developed good relationships with many leading yacht clubs in the UK and abroad. The officers of the BCYC are actively involved in both national and international discussions about the future development of classic yachting.

The membership of the BCYC now consists of more than eighty boats. In addition to the Club’s flagship annual regatta held in Cowes each July, the Club also organises a full programme of other racing, cruising and social activities in the Solent and on the East Coast, including the popular East Coast Classic Regatta in early June. BCYC yachts also participate in many important sailing events, including classic regattas in the Channel, Mediterranean and West Indies.

ABOUT OFFICINE PANERAI
Founded in Florence in 1860, Officine Panerai was for many years the official supplier of precision instruments for the Italian Navy. Purchased by the Richemont Group in 1997 and subsequently launched on the international market, Officine Panerai is now Italy’s only fine watch making company. Developing and producing its own movements and watches, Officine Panerai uniquely blends Italian history and design with renowned Swiss craftsmanship.

ABOUT THE PANERAI CLASSIC YACHTS CHALLENGE
2010 sees the first inclusion of the British Classic Yacht Club Cowes Regatta in the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge Series. Sponsored by Panerai since 2005, this high profile series features some of the world’s leading classic yacht regattas, including the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the Regates Royale, Cannes.