Lightning goes classic racing

A report from the Taitinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta

Between 15-17 August, The Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta was held in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, providing a race and social programme for over 113 yachts in 9 classes and filling the town’s picturesque harbour. The event hosted shore based entertainment for over 500 sailors and dominated all activity afloat in the Western Solent during a weekend of intensely competitive racing in challenging conditions and non-stop social activity.

When all the competing yachts had arrived in Yarmouth, the regatta was officially opened at the Champagne Taittinger Reception on Friday evening held on the lawns of the landmark, waterside property, The Towers, adjacent the Royal Solent Yacht Club (RSYC).

Peter Jennings, Commodore of the RSYC, welcomed the racing fleet: “We thank Taittinger enormously for their support and hope that you will all enjoy our regatta both on and off the water, make new friends and enjoy good courses and competitive racing,” he said in a brief speech during the party.

There were two races on Saturday and one on Sunday for the nine classes with two starting lines being used. Sponsors and their guests were entertained on the 80ft motor yacht Rum Jungle and were able to get an ideal vantage point to watch the racing.

Saturday proved challenging for the race officers with a southerly wind making starting particularly interesting. Sunday was much easier due to a stiff westerly wind with a flood tide ensuring a good first windward leg.

"Both days provided close racing for all classes in sometimes quite hostile conditions with small day boats such as the Yarmouth One Designs and the much larger Swans all vying for the same piece of water,” said the Regatta Chairman, Jeremy Willcock.

Craig ‘Lightning’ Nutter - a Whitbread-Round-The-World-Race and America’s Cup veteran - won the Classic Class on his 1935 Harrison Butler, Sabrina. “The regatta was a real tonic after Cowes Week,” commented Lightning, manager of the famous Medina Yard in West Cowes. “It was really social and a lot of fun,” he continued. “Because the event was compact and there weren’t thousands and thousands of bodies, you actually got to meet people and have a good time.” Racing with his wife and two young children, the winner of the 19-strong Classic Class was entirely satisfied: “The courses with the long reaches were perfect for classic boats,” he said. “You get the chance to settle in and really enjoy the racing. I’m only a bit sad the final, shorter race, on Sunday didn’t go on for longer. It was so enjoyable, I didn’t want it to end.”

Paul Smith took line honours twice in his 6 Metre, Valhalla, and won overall in the class: “It was an absolutely splendid weekend,” he commented. “I couldn’t have done better if I’d have organised it myself. There was always a launch ready to offer us a tow and the organisers were a great help. As for the racing, heading west from Yarmouth along the shoreline close-in on Sunday was spectacular, although I think we upset quite a few fishermen on the beach!” The social side of the event was also a hit for Smith and his four crew: “The party at the Towers. I’ve never been to anything quite like it,” he said, struggling for words. “I don’t know who thought of inviting the 6 Metres to the regatta, but it was a masterstroke and all the boats competing this year will certainly be back next year, along with some more entries, I’m sure.”

The 1975 Sparkman & Stephens-designed 42ft Philippides II won overall in the 13-strong Classic Swan fleet, adding to the yacht’s overall wins at the 2007 Swan European Championships in Cowes and at the Swan Rendezvous in Guernsey earlier this year. Her owner, Richard Balding, found the racing intense: “We had a lot of tough competition from Desperado and Le Quatre Juillet,” he explained. “We were far from perfect, but we got some things right.” This was the first meeting at the regatta for the S&S boats and the plan is to return to Yarmouth for the 2009 event: “We had plenty of wind and no rain,” continued Balding. “The courses were great fun and there was a wonderful social side. We have every intention of coming back next year.”

On Saturday night, the event’s Entertainment HQ, The Towers, was the venue for the Regatta Party, featuring Johnny Caulcutt's rock and roll band, Step on The Gas and a disco followed by fireworks and a laser show for a record 1,067 guests and included an appearance by the 15 year-old, Simon Cowell prodigy, Natalie Chua, who performed both her number 1 hits on stage. Johnny Caulcutt was highly impressed with the entire regatta: “There’s been a fantastic reception overall to the Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta and a very positive reaction all round,” he said.

“The whole event had three vital, key components onshore and afloat; good racing, good organisation and, most importantly, a lot of good fun,” Mark Calver from Hatch Mansfield distributors for Champagne Taittinger commented

Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta 2008 overall podium results:

Black Group:
J-Sprit (8 boats)
1. Johnny Blue II 2. Jelly Baby 3. Bojangles
IRC Handicap (4 boats)
1. Love in a Mist 2. Sassenach 3. Chablis of Wight
Swan Classic (13 boats)
1. Philippides II 2. Desperado 3. Quatre Juillet
Classic (19 boats)
1. Sabrina 2. Simba 3. Furstin

White Group:
6 Metre (5 boats)
1. Valhalla 2. Georgia 3. New Sweden
International Dragon (8 boats)
1. Norbert 2. Njord 3. Valanga
Folkboat (18 boats)
1. Crackerjack 2. Tak 3. Boomerang
XOD (30 boats)
1. Quest 2. X-Ray 3. Athena
YOD (9 boats)
1. Genista 2. Francesca 3. Katinka