The second day of the 2008 British Classic Yacht Club Regatta in Cowes dawned sunny but windless, resulting in a postponement of the start of the Ladies Race. Given the long day on the water yesterday, most crews were appreciative of the extra time.

The more active headed for the RCYC to find out the results of the previous day’s Round the Island race. Yesterday’s course was split into two races – the first to St Catherine’s Point, and another from St Catherine’s to the finish off the RCYC line.

In the hotly contested Class Zero, after much discussion about who had and who had not sailed the correct course, victory in Race 1a was awarded to Mariette, with Tuiga taking second, and The Lady Anne in third. The second part of the race was won by Tuiga followed by The Lady Anne and Mariquita.

In Class Two, despite being first home of all the fleets on the water, Guy Ribadeau Dumas’s 12 Metre Wings had to settle for second place in Race 1a behind David Murrin’s Cetewayo. Clive Emerson’s Lutine took third in both legs and The Earl of Cork and Orrery & D Glasgow’s Athena took second in Race 1b.

The Class Three winner for Race 1a was David Messum’s Josephine. Class Four Race 1a was won by Roger Dann on Leonie with Lance Rowell’s Dorothy in second. Dorothy then stepped up a gear to win race 1b ahead of Chris & Liz Day’s Thendara.

Yesterday at noon the postponement flags were still flying. BCYC Commodore Tim Blackman commented: “We are now approaching the tipping point. If we don’t go out on the water soon then the lure of the pubs and bars of Cowes might prove too much for the sailors”. At around 1230 the fleet made their way on to the Solent and rewarded with the arrival of a steady thermal breeze which quickly built to around 16 knots.

Many of the lady skippers had fully entered into the spirit of the day and were decked out in finery equalling the beauty of the yachts in their charge.

Aboard Lance Rowell’s 1894 Thames Rater Dorothy, Lance’s daughter Ali explained: “We are really happy because not only did we win the second leg of the race yesterday but this is the first time that Dorothy had made it successfully around the Island in four attempts. She is the oldest boat in our class and was built for the flat water of the Thames so she doesn’t really behave herself in the waves that you usually get on a Round the Island race.”

“Yesterday we struggled a bit on the first half of the race where it was a bit bumpy but we still managed to be second on corrected at St Catherine’s. On the last leg in from the Needles we set our gennaker and just flew home. The only downside of the race was that it needed to be a bit warmer for proper bikini weather”. Dorothy finished fifth in Class Four.

Taking third in Class Four was Roger Dann’s beautiful 1953 Lion Class Leonie. Dann said “Conditions were perfect for racing. We had plenty of wind and the sun was shining. We had a great battle with the other Lion Class – Patrick Moreton’s Twilight and also Barrie Martin’s A Day at the Races”.

Results of the Ladies Race:

Class Two:
1st Cetewayo
2nd Ilderim
3rd Quiver V

Class Three:
1st Clarion of Wight
2nd Charm of Rhu
3rd Sensa

Class Four:
1st Sinbad of Abersoch
2nd Sally of Kames
3rd Leonie

Racing continues for all fleets today (Wednesday 23 July) when Classes Two through Four will start at 1000 and sail two races. Class Zero boats are scheduled for one race starting at 1200 from the Royal Yacht Squadron line.

For all results, visit www.rcyc.co.uk