Cowes Week class preview 1

John Greenland looks at the form in the Farr 40, Sigma 33, 38 and X-332 classes

Sigma 33s and 38s

There are nearly 30 entries for the Sigma 38 class start in this year's Cowes Week. Polyphagus, winner of the Sigma 38 Nationals in St. Malo, by a margin of twenty-six points over second placed Mefisto is current favourite for the week. Owner Stephen Porter and the crew of Polyphagus are more that capable of improving on the third place finish they managed last year.

Their route to victory has been made slightly easier because Red Arrow, winner of this year's Warsash Spring Series, will not be present at this year's Cowes Week. The other main contender this year will be Light who finished third in this year's Spring Series. Although they have not shown they same level of consistency as Polyphagus, they are still capable of scoring good results.

An equally impressive twenty-two boats are entered for the Sigma 33 class this year. Competition in the Sigmas is always close, and there are many boats in with a shout of winning this year. Powder Monkey has to be one of the favourites having won Cowes Week last year. However, White Spirit is also competing, and having come second behind Powder Monkey last year, will certainly be looking for revenge.

The Sigma 33 class is particularly popular because the boats are all very evenly matched, with fifteen year old boats just as capable of winning the event as boat fresh from the mould. Like all other Sigma 33 events, the week looks set to provide some close racing, with overall victory likely to be decided in the last race.

X332s

There are now 40 X-332s in the Solent area, with over thirty expected to enter Cowes Week. However, the current entry list does not feature any of the top six finishers at July's Nationals, held in Torbay. With Blue Max and Carabistouilles absent from the regatta, winner and runner-up at the Nationals, the top spot is likely to be filled by Exabitionist, winner of the Warsash Spring Series.

Like all one-design classes, racing is always tight, and with several of last year's top finishers back for another go, Exabitionist's challenge for victory will certainly not be easy. Over from France for the second time is Brittany Ferries who finished sixth at last year's event. Yellow Rose, over from Holland, is also capable of a top placed finish.