2022 marked the second year of the Cruising Association as presenting sponsor of the Club Cruiser Class, after debuting at Cowes Week in 2021.
The growing popularity of cruising boat divisions in multi-class race weeks was evident in the 25-boat entry list at Cowes Week, 30 July-5 August 2022, which was up on entries from 2021. The fleet was split into white and blue fleets for the seven days of racing on the Solent, with the level of competitiveness demonstrated by nine different boats claiming finishes inside the top three.
Club Cruiser Class – Podium Top Three ©Paul Wyeth/Cowes Week
Cowes Week is the jewel in the crown of the UK yachting racing calendar, and the final day was a tense affair as three boats – ‘Scandal’, ‘Aqua’ and ‘Panda of Hamble’ - were in the running for podium places. An impressive run of form saw ‘Scandal’, a Sun Odyssey 349, earning a sufficient points margin to discard their final day’s second place finish in the blue fleet and claim overall victory. In the white fleet, the fight for second and third overall was a matter of who finished ahead, with the race 7 win going to ‘Aqua’ and ‘Panda of Hamble’ finishing in third place, to end the series on equal points. The tiebreak advantage was awarded on countback to ‘Aqua’, with third to ‘Panda of Hamble’.
The Solent served up a sensational week of weather conditions, with light breeze through to 25+ knots providing plenty of thrills and spills to put crews through their paces, along with some epic starts off the iconic Royal Yacht Squadron line. A variety of cruising boats were reflected in the entry line-up, including a Spirit 37, Beneteau First 285, Finngulf 33, Sweden 34, Jenneau Sun Odyssey, Westerly Fulmar 32, Superseal 26 and Bavaria 39. As well as tackling the race course by day, the teams mixed it up by night to enjoy the legendary shoreside hospitality.
Images ©Paul Wyeth/Cowes Week
The Cruising Association’s motivation as presenting sponsor of the Club Cruiser Class Trophy is to encourage and celebrate the many sailors who enjoy competitive racing alongside exploring cruising waters around the world.
Jules Dussek, former President of the Cruising Association, attended Friday night’s prize giving to present the specially commissioned Club Cruiser Trophy to the winner and prizes to the top three teams.
"The Cruising Association is thrilled to partner with Cowes Week. It's been a terrific week of racing and I am delighted to present the Cruising Association Trophy to Scandal.
"With over 6,400 members worldwide, the CA represents every aspect of cruising here in UK waters and abroad, and we are delighted to welcome cruising boats to Cowes Week. Cruising sits at the heart of what the Cruising Association is about – and like Cowes Week we want to encourage exceptional sailing experiences."
Images ©Paul Wyeth/Cowes Week
Final Results - Top 5 Overall
- Scandal / Skipper: Nick Hampton - 13.47 pts
- Aqua / Skipper: Mark Attrill - 17.32 pts
- Panda of Hamble / Skipper: Ian Smyth - 17.32 pts
- Whispering Spirit / Skipper: Andrew Haining - 23.09 pts
- Illusionist / Skipper: Darren Longley - 30.79 pts
To celebrate the partnership with Cowes Week, the Cruising Association offered all competitors a 25% discount on membership until 30 September 2022. Membership gives two people access to a package of year-round benefits, an unrivalled information and advice resource and use of our members’ club house in London.
For full results, news, photos, video and more go to: www.cowesweek.co.uk
9 August 2022