Uffa Fox 50 Celebration Regatta - Day 1

Uffa Fox 50 Celebration regatta © John Green

Jeremy Vines, one of the most senior competitors, sailing one of the newest boats in the regatta and National 18 Ace, won the Fast Handicap race on Friday at the Uffa Fox 50 Celebration Regatta. Other winners were John Greenland sailing his Firefly Falken in the Slow Handicap and Rowan Horner's Harrier 20 Meg in the Yachts fleet.

The only fleet to get two races on the first day of the event were the Flying Fifteens, with Jeremy Kriek sailing Seventh Heaven leading after two races with fourth and first places.

For many of the competitors, just being here is very special, soaking up the atmosphere and admiring the huge array of beautifully restored vintage boats. Harry Hutchinson from the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, who is sailing his recently restored International 14 Ionlanthe with his two daughters commented, "it was wonderful to be out there sailing amongst all these wonderful wooden boats, the gleam of the sunshine on the water and on varnished wood was so special."

Light winds and rain messed up the morning schedule, but in the middle of the day the sun broke through and the breeze filled in to produce some sparkling sailing in the afternoon. The Flying Fifteens, sailing off the Royal Yacht Squadron line had the best of the day, though it was obvious that some of the competitors were unfamiliar with sailing on strongly tidal waters.

In the evening the competitors enjoyed a drinks party at the Cowes Classic Boat Museum which is filled with a vast array of craft ranging from beautiful wooden boats of the early 1900s to the first boat from Sir Ben Ainslie's most recent America's Cup campaign.

Find further details at www.UF50.org