Another cracking day of sailing on the Solent with brighter and rather more manageable conditions than Wednesday.
The fleets set off in a westerly wind of about 15 knots and a weakening ebb tide. During the morning the wind gradually increased to 20 knots reaching 25 knots by 13.00 by which time the tide was beginning to flood.
Only 4 points separate the top three boats in the National Swallow fleet with Mike Wigmore in Gwaihir holding the lead 2 points ahead of Jeremy Sibthorpe in Osprey.
Giles Peckham in Daring Dauntless is one point behind David Tydeman in Dynamite. Neither boat has a run of bullets and Bob Gatehouse in Darling has been amongst them all week.
The Loch Long Tantrum sailed by Jonathan Evans is tied on 15 points with Ian Giffords Faolag with Paul Antcliff in Mermaid only three points behind. The last race on Friday will decide who wins.
Chris Gorringe is a new helm in the Flying Fifteen Leap of Faith and with 5 bullets and a discarded 2nd place has established a 4 point lead over Rob Goddard in Over the Moon.
The Dragon class have had a terrific week effectively match racing. Andrew Milliband in Glaurung has 9 points and Michael Cover in Ithaca has 8 points suggesting some very enthusiastic racing on the last day.
The Folkboats have also had a very close matched week with Claire Locke in The Otter prevailing over Alasdair Maclean in Eala by just one point. Their series finished on Thursday and the prize giving for this class will be at the RYS this evening.
John Tremlett in XOD Astralita has managed to establish a 2 point lead over Ben McGrane in Swallow which is well ahead of the next placed boat 19 points behind with only one race to complete.
Mark Dowie sailing the 10 mR Bojar has established a three-point lead over the Sydney registered Swan 65 Eve sailed by Steven Capell and Fraser Welch with one more race to go on Friday.
Peter Binning and Anita Fulton have had a great week in their newly acquired Contessa 32 English Rose chasing the International H Boat of Richard Hollis 4 points ahead with one race to go.
In Division 3 Marcus Lawson sailing his Twister Edith Rose has three bullets and a second place in the series giving him a 9 point lead over second placed Jamie Nimmo in his Seaview Mermaid Cynthia and in the Old Gaffers class the charming Dorothy sailed by Linton Hope has managed a bullet every day to lead the series by 8 points
We look forward to seeing you all at the RYS reception this evening followed by the Regatta Dinner at the RLYC.
This is the last daily report and the full prize giving and tea will be at the RLYC on Friday afternoon as soon after racing as possible.
We look forward to seeing you all again next year – perhaps with some friends!
David Gower
Chairman
Cowes Classics Week 2023
