The Contessa 32 two-boat team racing series, organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, was sailed on windward/leeward courses in the Solent over the weekend of 8-9 June. Conditions ranged from variable Force 2-3 on Saturday up to 25 knots on Sunday – from sunshine, to overcast, to rain – but overall two series of five tactically interesting races were held over the two days.

Saturday saw Team 2 of Chris North’s Andaxi and Contessa Catherine (the very first Contessa 32 ever built and still competitive) meeting last year’s winner Hurrying Angel (Cathy Claydon’s boat which is actively campaigned in JOG and two handed series rather than ’round the cans’) and Corafin in Team 3. Both had records of three wins and one loss in the heats. The day was won by Andaxi and Contessa Catherine after Andaxi covered back from the lead and Corafin suffered sail handling problems and brushed the last mark allowing Contessa Catherine through for a 1,2 finish.

Sunday’s racing in 20 knots of wind was on the limit for safe team racing in yachts so sail plans were restricted to No3 genoas and the teams were re-drawn. The fourth race saw the only serious incident of the day when Roulette and Blanco suffered a coming together in the midst of an extravagant downwind luffing match. After Blanco’s Team 4 won the race, both Blanco and Roulette had to retire from further racing.

Complicated re-calculations resulted in the day’s final being a re-run of the last heat between Team 2 of Andaxi and Cantata and Team 3 of Drumbeat and Corafin. A closely fought race involved Andaxi and Corafin in a down wind luffing match and a final leg won by Cantata while Andaxi close covered Corafin and Drumbeat to the line before finishing second.

Results

Saturday

1st Andaxi/Contessa Catherine

2nd Hurrying Angel/Corafin

Sunday

1st Andaxi/Cantata

2nd Drumbeat/Corafin