By William Mills
Cowes Classic Week 2016 is the ninth year of this growing event attracting a total of 188 entrants including 52 XODs the largest class.
Sponsored by Charles Stanley & Co, who are pulling out after three years with the event, and hosted by the Royal London Yacht Club in Cowes IOW.
Some fabulous sailing saw Charles Stanley Direct’s MD Magnus Wheatley come third overall after his last series in his Daring class yacht which he’s now sold.
Magnus Wheatley said;
“Another fantastic regatta.A really good fun week. very good courses. Great race management. I think Cowes Classic Week is actually a better week for sailors than Cowes Week is, which is very much Solent ‘orienting’.
“Whereas what we do with Classic Week we have windward/leeward courses and then we throw in a few fixed mark courses as well. It does make for a really varied and challenging four days rather than nine days [of Cowes Week] which is quite a long time to be in Cowes and racing in Cowes Week.
“What I’m really encouraged by is people like the XODs saying they enjoy this week more than they do Cowes Week, which is effectively their national championships and Captain’s Cup. The quality of the fleet that’s here for the XODs is fantastic and then you also see we also have the Tempest World Championships here as well.
“The Royal London is also running the Etchells World Championships later this year. There is a real racing pedigree within the Royal London and Cowes Classic Week brings together so many varied classes.
“There are a lot of people working very hard to bring these classes here. They are coming from the south of France to the north of Scotland, to these events. It’s a growing event.”
Mr Wheatley stressed that he is just taking a break in yacht ownership and will be back on the water soon.
The Cowes clubs took turns to host evening events including Wednesday evening’s reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron sponsored by Haines Boatyard.