Champagne Solent sailing

Sailmakers get to do still more stitching

The sun and wind gods smiled on all the fleets today, with an average 15 knots of breeze and flat waters conditions were almost perfect for day two of Skandia Life Cowes Week.

The Mumm 30s still managed their own fun and frolics starting with early casualty when Fiona and Malcolm Thorp's King Louis had a start line collision with a HOD 35. King Louis was on starboard and the unfortunate encounter caused considerable damage to the Mumm. Malcolm is hoping to have the damage repaired and back on the water for tomorrow.

After her contratent with Skandia Life Leopard yesterday, Sardonyx Vl is still playing bumper cars and popped another hit today but this time with a Sigma 38 Tim Waite's Premier Crew. Sardonyx tried to sneak inside at the last mark but bumped the Sigma near her bow. Apart from a few bashes and crashes the Mumms were lead by Sardonyx, Pogo Bogo and Darren Baker's Mad Cow Hyde who sail consistently well in the fleet.

In the 1720s today Irish Yngling and 470 sailor Laura Dillon took over the helm on Skandia life while Shirley Robertson joined fellow Gold Medalist Ben Ainslie at the wheel on the Reichel Pugh 90 Skandia Life Leopard. Laura got a good start and accelerated to a considerable lead at the first mark and maintained her first place through to the finish. Jo Grindley who is a regular crew for Shirley said " I enjoy sailing these boats, it is good close tactical racing and we have a talented bunch of girls, including Ian Budgen." The GBR Challenge crew member replaced his girlfriend who was due to sail today. "He looked very nice in the girls team colours. Yellow."

Magnus Leask from Melges 24 Racketeer said: " today was a great day for sailing but the courses were long and boring, we had good speeds often touching 12 knots. These are exciting boats to sail but we feel that windward- leeward courses at these regattas like the Farr 40 enjoy would regenerate interest back to the Melges fleets".

Both the Hunter 707s and the Bowsprit classes had a smooth day. Mark Asquith of Charlie Fish reported "the courses were even better today with shorter legs which made for closer racing. We suffered today due to a large night out so our performance was effected somewhat. We managed to lose one crew overboard on the pre-start as he wasn't paying attention when we gybed".

Colin Rawlings' new J/109 Judgement Day completed their very first race after ripping two kites yesterday on the first day of their maiden regatta. Colin who has sailed other J/Boats said: "it was a superb day, she is very lively and goes very well when we are heavy as we were ten crew today. We had 9 knots out of her on the runs and my day was complete when we beat yesterdays winner on the water".