Cowes Classics Regatta 2025 - Day 2
by Magnus Wheatley 31 May 13:10 PDT
30 May - 1 June 2025
A dense, wispy fog sat over the Solent this morning, hampering visibility and causing Cowes Classics Regatta Principal Race Officer, Tim Hancock, to call a short delay shoreside to let the sun burn through and leave a simply stunning day for all the fleets as winds of Force 2-4 filled in across the racecourses. Once again, the regatta management team ran three courses, with two fleets on the Hill Head plateau whilst the inshore yachts sailed down in the sheltered, yet tricky, waters of Osborne Bay.
Saturday at Cowes Classics Regatta was very much billed as 'moving day' with three races planned for many of the fleets, but it ended seeing positional consolidation as the real cream of the Solent classics fleet rose to the occasion.
Four boats currently have perfect scorelines including the International H-Boat of Craig & Emma Dymock 'White Wedding,' the 30 Square Metre 'Aeolus' of Richard Hargreaves, Dan Henderson sailing 'Penny Benjamin' in the Squib Class and the Old Gaffer 'Ivy Green' of Richard Jacobs, ahead of the final day of racing on Sunday - designated as 'Cowes Classics Day' that includes the traditional, free-to-all, classic car and boat displays on the Parade and Trinity Landing right in front of the Royal London Yacht Club.
However, one of the wonderful sights of the day on the water was spotted in the Dragon Class where Rupert Street brought his four-year-old twins Leopold & Theodore, plus elder son Louis onboard La-Ju (DK74) their beautiful classic Dragon. The family announced themselves as serious contenders for the future with the twins clearly enjoying racing with their father and big brother. Bravo to the Street family - and very much in the spirit of Cowes Classics Regatta.
Elsewhere in the Dragon fleet, it was deadly serious racing with Simon Barter, sailing 'Bertie,' taking three race wins from three to confirm his dominance over the fleet. Racing as ever in the Dragons was super-tight, but Barter found a way to win, wriggling away from the chasing pack and making some superb calls as the tide changed mid-afternoon on the Hill Head plateau. Barter will go into the final day with a five-point lead over Chris Grosscurth's 'Fit Chick' who posted a fourth and two second places to cement second overall from Own Pay's 'Furious' in third.
Overnight leader with two race wins in the Daring fleet, Josh Peckham sailing 'Dauntless,' recovered from a poor start in race three that eventually yielded a third place after some very clever recovery positional sailing, before bouncing back and stunning the fleet with two outstanding race wins. Peckham now has a commanding lead over Paul Wiseman's 'Doublet' of some seven points net after five races whilst the podium places are tight with David Tydeman's 'Dynamite' just a point behind 'Doublet.' All to play for on the final Sunday with two further races left in the Daring fleet series.
Down in the flat waters of Osborne Bay, the XOD, Squib and Bembridge One Design fleets assembled, only to find an AP flag flying as the wind, filtering off the dense forestry land of the Island, refused to settle. Principal Race Officer, Tim Hancock, was monitoring the situation with his team aboard the Committee Boat, eventually getting the fleets away as almost perfect conditions, shifty at times, came in from the west.
In the hotly contested Squib Class, Dan Henderson certainly didn't have it all his own way, being pushed by the fleet and working hard for his victories, but three more race wins today takes 'Penny Benjamin' almost unassailably clear of the fleet, some 11 points ahead after one discard. Giving chase in the tight pack behind is Phil Rust on 'Aquabat' who showed some wonderful tactical racing to climb through the fleet, whilst Charlie White's 'Kestrel' is on the podium in third just one point behind. The top step may well be a sealed deal, but plenty still to play for in the Squib fleet who are enjoying some remarkably close racing in the fleet of twelve.
After sailing up to join the regatta yesterday afternoon, and sailing one race on Friday, today the Bembridge One Designs enjoyed two races on the Osborne Bay course area that saw two different winners. In the first, it was Sarah Marshall sailing BOD 7 who scored a popular victory, whilst Hugh Doherty won the second sailing BOD 10. The fleet was tightly packed at the starts and around the marks, and consistency was rewarded with Mark Grzegorczyk, sailing BOD 9, maintaining his lead overall from an opening race win on Friday, scoring two second places today to lead Jos Coad in BOD 8 going into the final day by just three points. All to play for in this competitive, and very beautiful, fleet.
Meanwhile, in the XOD fleet, Cordelia Ellis sailing 'Myrtle,' really made her move today, securing the overall lead by two points after scoring two race wins and a third place today. It was a stunning performance from Cordelia who seemed perfectly in-tune with the shifts and gusts as her crew displayed some first-class boat-handling. David Palmer, sailing 'Princess Jalina' posted a second, first and fourth today to sit just two points adrift of 'Myrtle' and three points ahead of Lisa Childerley sailing 'Palassie.' The XOD's as always are proving to be one of the toughest fleets to win at Cowes Classic Regatta and the overall winner on Sunday afternoon will certainly have earned it.
The Classic Yachts Division above 12 metres LOA, saw Richard Hargreaves sailing 'Aeolus' continue his perfect scoreline of race wins with two first places on Saturday that leaves this wonderful 30 Square Metre some six points clear of Michael Briggs's 'Mikado' - the Fife Clyde 30 Linear - and in total command of the division. Peter Cyriax, a long-time competitor at Cowes Classics Regatta, maintained third place overall but a retirement in the fourth race will be something peter will want to discard by the close on Sunday.
For the Classic Yacht Division under 11.99 metres LOA, Craig & Emma Dymock also continued their perfect scoreline, winning both races in their beautifully restored International H-Boat 'White Wedding.' Sailing supremely, the 'White Wedding' team were a class apart from the first gun, sailing consistently and working the shifts on the tricky Hill Head course to their advantage. Richard Hargreaves, sailing 'Warrior' another International H-Boat, consolidated second place overall with two second places today whilst Steve Scanlan's 'Vega' drops down to third after two fourth places today.
In the Old Gaffer fleet, it was close racing between the two entrants 'Ivy Green' of Richard Jacobs and 'Spinaway X' of Andrew Hitt. Continuing his winning ways of Friday, Richard continued his dominance taking both race wins today and consolidating his overall lead with a perfect regatta score. The Old Gaffer's remain the beating heart of the regatta and certainly attracted the attention of the spectator craft that followed the racing intently.
Commodore of the Royal London Yacht Club, His Honour Peter Ralls K.C. summed up another stunning Solent day saying: "I was delighted to see the fog lifting and it was absolutely the right decision to keep competitors ashore for a short delay, but once released we saw the very best of Cowes Classics Regatta with some desperately close racing. The one-designs are always tight and it's interesting to see how those results are unfolding, and I'm excited by the outstanding sailing we are seeing at the top of the handicap fleets. It was also lovely to see the clubhouse so busy last night for the ever-popular barbecue and we look forward to drinks at the wonderful Kendall's Art Gallery before the regatta dinner. As ever I offer my thanks to everyone who is making this event such a success and we look forward to Classics Day on Sunday with some astonishing vintage cars on the Parade and the conclusion of the regatta."
On the water today were many of the sponsors that have made the 2025 edition of Cowes Classics Regatta such a success with both the Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Thames Yacht Club, who are jointly running the event, hosting guests.
Tim Milner the Founder of Bamboo Travel, a specialist Asian luxury travel agency, and his wife Yadanar Zin Zo, who were out on the Solent commented: "It was a beautiful day on the water, and we were so impressed with both the quality of the sailing and the sheer beauty of the classic yachts on display. It really is a remarkable regatta, and our thanks go to the Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Thames Yacht Club for giving us such a memorable afternoon on the Solent."
The forecast for Sunday is showing an increase in the wind pressure through the afternoon, with possible gusts of around 30 knots. For those going for the coveted Cowes Classics Regatta, it could be a thrilling end to what has already been an outstanding long weekend of racing.
Find out more at www.cowesclassicsregatta.org