Club Cruising Log 2021

This summer when you are enjoying the lovely British summer, and cruising around the coast, do remember to write up the log of your voyage including some photos, and send it in.

Last year was the inauguration of the Kingfisher Cup, for the best Log, generously donated by our Rear Commodore Lord Briggs and, ahem, won by the log of a yacht called Kingfisher and owned by Michael. We were fortunate to have Rob Peake of Classic Boat as judge and he has kindly agreed to repeat his role again this year, so get planning your cruise, sharpen up your pencils, dust off the  box brownie and  get busy writing.

The winning entry will be announced and awarded at the Annual Dinner in November.  For inspiration, the three entries submitted in 2020  are found below.

Entry Open for British Classic Week 2021

The British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC) has announced entry applications are open for its annual British Classic Week regatta in Cowes.  Taking place from 17th to 24th July, the 19th edition of the event will combine competitive racing with camaraderie and is set to be a celebration of classic yachts.

Above: racing in the Solent sunshine. Image: Chris Brown

Criteria for entry is IRC classic yachts of 24ft and over or modern classic, Spirit of Tradition yachts of either wood or steel construction.  Fast-paced racing for classes 1-4 and a 6mR class will take place in the challenging tidal waters of the Solent against the historic, picturesque backdrop of the Isle of Wight.

Race management organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron will see beautifully maintained classic yachts battle it out over a six-race series of varied courses, including round-the-cans races and the 30nm Nab Tower Race that takes in the iconic Horse Sand and No Mans Land Forts. 

Above: yachts approaching No Mans Land fort during the NAB Tower Race. Image: Guido Cantini

BCYC Commodore Jonathan Dyke commented, “After an extremely challenging year, we are very much looking forward to hosting British Classic Week this summer.  With a renewed appreciation for yachting in home waters and a lack of racing opportunities over the past year, we know classic yacht owners are keen to be back out on the water.”

Keen spectators will be able to enjoy fantastic views of the racing from the coastal paths and secluded beaches along the north shore of the Isle of Wight.  Line starts and finishes in front of the famous Royal Yacht Squadron allow shore-based crowds to get close to the action on the water.

Above: crossing the line in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron. Image: Chris Brown

This year’s British Classic Week will see a bumper line-up of event support in the wake of Panerai’s long-term partnership with the event.  This year’s sponsors include OneSails, Spirit Yachts and BRIG RIBs, with event support from Suffolk Yacht Harbour and traditional chandlery Classic Marine.  The UK’s leading publication on classic and traditional boats, Classic Boat magazine, remains the regatta’s media partner.

Also new for British Classic Week 2021 is a partnership with the Tall Ships Youth Trust.  As the regatta’s official charity partner, the Tall Ships Youth Trust will be integrated into all aspects of the week, from sailing to socialising and fundraising.

Above: The Tall Ships Youth Trust is the official BCW charity. Image: Tall Ships Youth Trust

With drinks brands Adnams, Hattiers Rum and Dartmouth Gin providing celebratory drinks delivered direct to yachts after they have crossed the finish line, the social scene promises to be lively on and off the water.

BCYC Commodore Jonathan Dyke added, “This year’s social programme remains as vibrant as ever, with a balance of casual and more formal events.  Whilst we are mindful of Covid and we will adhere to any restrictions in place at the time, we are lucky that the mostly outdoor nature of the event means we can be flexible with the arrangements.  We remain optimistic and we have planned a dynamic week full of “old favourites” and fun new additions.”

The social programme includes the traditional welcome reception on the lawn at The Royal Yacht Squadron on Sunday 18th July.  On Tuesday 20th July, regatta attendees will have the opportunity to peruse the fleet of timeless classics during the Open Yachts Pontoon Party (sponsored by Classic Boat with drinks by Hattiers Rum and Dartmouth Gin). 

Above: Drinks at the Royal Yacht Squadron. Image Chris Brown

Thursday night at the regatta will be hosted by yacht Stiletto to celebrate the 60 years since the 33ft Kim Holman designed sloop was built by Whisstocks boatyard in Suffolk.  This free of charge party will be limited in numbers and tickets for the BBQ and live band party can be applied for at entry on a first come, first served basis.  The regatta will round off with a prize giving dinner on Friday evening.

Above: yacht Stiletto racing at British Classic Week 2018. Image: Guido Cantini

A daily programme of ‘cruise in company’ events will see the cruising fleet sail to a variety of beautiful locations including lunch breaks at the Master Builders on the Beaulieu River and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight.

The motto of the BCYC is Per Ardua ad Marum (Through hard work to the Seas), paying homage to the commitment required to own and maintain a classic yacht. Most of the classic yachts that attend the regatta are privately owned, meaning that for many their upkeep is purely down to the devotion of their owners and crew.   Founded in 2001, the BCYC will celebrate its 20th anniversary at this year’s British Classic Week.

To enter, go to www.britishclassicweek.co.uk

Watching Paint Dry

I’m sure many of us, being classic yacht aficionados, have been involved to some extent or other in the restoration process. I know I have, mainly because I can only afford to buy yachts that are down on their luck. But it is known now by many that I have really enjoyed bringing better luck to lovely yachts, and then finding them loving owners and thus a better assured future.

The first yacht I bought in 1989, Bettine, the first Laurent Giles Brittany class built in 1939, was in pretty good fettle and I managed to keep her as such for her new owners who came along when I bought Undina from Ross Gannon of the Gannon and Benjamin yard in Marthas Vineyard, and I imported her from the US in 1996. My partner in this purchase (an old school friend) died, and she was sold to John, and a few years later to Griff Rys Jones. The rest is stuff of legend.

In 2000 Jo and I bought Josephine in Marthas Vineyard, a sister ship of Undina, and Ross reframed her and did a load of other stuff, and I did all the cosmetics in Cowes, ready for the Americas Cup Jubilee Regatta in 2001.

She was followed in 2006 by Infanta, which Jo and I bought on Cape Cod (you may detect a pattern developing here!) and we restored her in Bembridge to participate in the first Transat Classique. She has been in the wonderful ownership of John Hall since 2010 and we have sailed a lot with them on the Cote d’Azur, Greece, a Fastnet and culminating in the New York Regatta in Rhode Island July 2019, since when she has been waiting on Cape Cod, just round the corner from where we bought her, waiting for Covid to lift.

Jo and I now have Kalea, a 21m Italian superyacht of 1964, which we bought in Rome. She was sound, but down on her luck and I am now working on her in Cowes with a view, when finished to have her in the Med, and Ionian, and Aegian while I find her new owner. Tough work but someone’s got to do it.

Kalea on the Almalfi Coast

The size and extent of works on Kalea are as whole different ball game! As you might imagine, it’s not been possible to do the work all the time, not least because I keep having to go out to make more money, even so it is quite true to say that from week to week it is really quite difficult to discern any progress – rather like watching paint dry.

To give some measure to the extent of the job, in order to do a bit of carpentry on Infanta a few years ago, I set my workmate up in the saloon. As ever, there was a need to offer up re-shape offer up again, mark carefully, measure twice, pilot drill and so on, each action requiring the work mate to be moved or collapsed until the rain stopped and I could put it on the pontoon.

Trying out Kaleas Saloon for future use.

Doing a similar piece of work on Kalea a few months ago, unable to complete it I packed the workmate away. Due to one thing and another it was sometime before I could get back on board to finish the job. During the interim, I could not recall where I had put it. It took me ten minutes to even find it! Not in the lazarette aft which will accommodate 3 crew sitting down playing cards. I knew it wasn’t in the big owners’ cabin or it’s en suite shower room; obviously not in the saloon, bar or galley, guest cabin port, guest cabin starboard or their en suites. There was no sign in the Crew quarters forward, its en suite, or even in the workshop in the forepeak.

Beginning to wonder if I had taken it home, I found it in the engine room!

Sub Note: Regarding importing lovely classic yachts from the States, sometimes the exchange rate is good, shipping from the E Coast is not too expensive, and three times I have paid just 3% vat – like on classic cars.

Tim Blackman

BCYC Admiral

New Year Forecast

The winter will be stormy at first, gradually becoming calmer as the Vaccine sweeps in from Oxford. By fitting out time the outlook should be improving with spreading patches of optimism. The summer looks set to be fair.

We wish all our members and supporters a safe winter and hope we will meet in Cowes in July

BCYC Committee

Tall Ships Youth Trust Announced As BCW 2021 Charity Partner

British Classic Week has announced the Tall Ships Youth Trust will be the regatta’s official charity partner for 2021. The charity will be integrated into all aspects of the regatta week, from sailing to socialising and fundraising.

Organised by the British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC), the 19th edition of British Classic Week will take place in Cowes from 17th – 24th July 2021.  The regatta comprises a six-race series and a varied social programme, welcoming classic yachts from across the UK, Europe and further afield.  

Credit: Chris Brown

The UK’s oldest and largest sail training charity, the Tall Ships Youth Trust enables young people to fulfil their life potential through adventures at sea.  By bringing together crews of different social backgrounds and taking them on residential sailing voyages, the Tall Ships Youth Trust supports young people aged 12-25 from across the UK.

Commodore of BCYC, Jonathan Dyke, commented, “We have huge respect and admiration for the work carried out by the Tall Ships Youth Trust.  As a charity that prides itself on being a community at sea and on land, founded on friendships and a love of sailing, the Tall Ships Youth Trust is a natural partner for British Classic Week.” 

Jonathan continued, “Young people need our support more than ever right now and as such we are working on ways to fully integrate the charity into British Classic Week.  Fundraising will play a key part, complemented by raising awareness.  We also hope to get some young people out on the water to give them first-hand experience of a world-class regatta.”

Credit: The Tall Ships Youth Trust

Founded in 1956, the Tall Ships Youth Trust has supported over 120,000 young people, the majority of whom are disadvantaged or disabled.  Currently operating with four Challenger yachts and a 55ft ketch, the charity is fundraising to purchase more seagoing capacity. The coronavirus pandemic has hit disadvantaged young people harder than most, so tragically the demand for the charity’s work has dramatically increased, and it needs a bigger vessel, or vessels, to deliver its mission.

James Hudson, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at the Tall Ships Youth Trust, added, “We are thrilled and honoured to be selected as the regatta’s official charity partner for 2021. British Classic Week has a vibrant history and is one of the UK’s most exciting and beautiful sailing events. We look forward to working with the event team to raise funds and generate awareness for our vital work with disadvantaged young people who, post-pandemic, need our services like never before.”

Credit: The Tall Ships Youth Trust

Entry for the 2021 British Classic Week opens in April.  The racing will be organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron and will include a schedule of varied courses, including the popular NAB Tower race.  Criteria for entry is IRC classic yachts of 24ft and over or modern classic, Spirit of Tradition yachts.  Fast-paced racing across different classes will take place in the challenging tidal waters of the Solent against the historic, picturesque backdrop of the Isle of Wight. 

Founded in 2001, the BCYC will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2021 and the club will mark the occasion during British Classic Week next year.

Find out more: https://www.tallships.org

BCYC AGM

Due to Covid restrictions The Annual General Meeting will be replaced by a Zoom meeting.

November 13th @ 18.30

Invitations will be emailed to members shortly

TIME TO GET AFLOAT & CLUB NEWS

The welcome news was announced last week that boatyards, marinas and harbours are now open. This comes as a huge relief and is a tribute to the RYA’s efforts. Frustrated owners can now begin fitting out and making plans to get on the water and to look forward to the joys of life afloat, subject to some restrictions on crew, sleeping on board, and maintaining two meters separation, not a problem for our yachts !

So far, the determined Regatta Committee at the Royal London are persisting with their plans to hold the Cowes Classics Week from July 25 / 31. Cowes Week are also hoping to run the Regatta as scheduled and are in plenary planning sessions, and discussions with Harbour and Local Authorities. As the goalposts are moving faster than Whooper on a beam reach, they may yet be able to run the events. The Cowes spring Classics has been shifted to September and the Hamble Classics is scheduled for late August

We wish them all bureaucratic fair winds.

Despite the cancellation of our Regatta in July, we are looking into cruising options to enable our members to congregate safely and enjoy time together passage making, mooring or anchoring.

We are pleased to announce that Mary Scott-Jackson will be devoting time to revising the Yachts data base and assisting with updating the Club website.

With best wishes 

Rufus          
 On board Venya,   en route Harwich to Aldeburgh Wednesday

Regatta Dates Announced

We are pleased to announce the following British Classic Week Regatta dates for 2021 and 2022.

17th July 2021

16th July 2022

British Classic Week Suspended

It is with regret that we announce that the  British Classic Week has been suspended.

In order to clarify the plans that many members and visitors are making, we have concluded that it would be imprudent to hold the Regatta in July.

If and when, conditions permit, we will consider staging a smaller, less formal event and we will consult with our members to ensure as much opportunity as possible for participation.

We look forward to welcoming you to the  British Classic Week, which  is scheduled to be held in July 2021.

Welcome to the new British Classic Yacht Club Website

This is always an exciting time of year for the BCYC as we plan our events for the forthcoming season. The principal event being the BCYC British Classic Week regatta which this year runs from 18 to 25 July. The challenges post Panerai sponsorship have focussed our minds and we have reviewed every aspect of the Regatta, and I am delighted to be able to confirm that the principal elements of the regatta centred around Cowes Yacht Haven, the marquee lounge, racing provided by the Royal Yacht Squadron, with Mary Scott Jackson and her MSJ Event Team dealing with regatta management will all be in place. Further information on the regatta racing and social programme will be forwarded to previous entrants and further regatta details will appear on the BCYC British Classic week regatta website.

The Committee continues to look at expanding the cruising programme of the club, not just at the regatta, although several exciting initiatives are planned during this event. Plans are also afoot for more extensive regional cruising gatherings and musters.

‘GRP Classics’ continues to be a subject of debate, both within the BCYC and the wider classic yachting community. The quality of classic yachts meeting the pre 1970 criteria is very varied and the premier designs are few in number and thus limit consideration. The committee and wider membership will however continue to review how and where this changing scenario might be configured into a racing programme, although this is a longer term consideration and will doubtless be debated at length.

Since its inception the BCYC has catered for sailing vessels constructed in wood and steel with a design date prior to 1971. We are delighted to announce that we have now extended membership to classic motor yachts and we welcome applications from owners of these vessels. This year there will be a dedicated motor yacht class at the British Classic Week regatta in July with a cruising programme for sail and power.

On behalf of myself, the Flag Officers and committee we wish you fair winds.

Jonathan Dyke
Commodore BCYC

YACHT STREGA

Strega had a great Winter series after the first race which we decided against entering as the weather and tides were atrocious. The remaining races were much more our conditions, we are now great fans of wing on wing which allows us to head downwind. Lymington Adjusted Handicap is a closely guarded secret ! Or a weekly shuffling of the results ....