Day 4 of the 2011 Panerai British Classic Regatta gave competitors a break from the normal fleet racing schedule in the form of ‘Challenge Day’ – an opportunity for any boat to challenge a larger competitor to a one-on-one match race. Given the atmosphere of friendly rivalry which typifies Classic regattas and the Panerai British Classic Regatta in particular, it came as no surprise that a total of 13 challenges were received by the deadline. More surprising perhaps was that several of the scheduled matches comprised three or more yachts. Weather conditions were once again less than ideal, but despite the promise of only the lightest of breezes and the certain prospect of regular ‘refreshing’ rain showers, nevertheless a fleet of 31 yachts headed out on to the Solent do battle, primarily for yacht club bar room bragging rights.
Sailing yacht Crusader and Italia - Panerai British Classic Week 2011' Lloyd Images ©
The match between Cornelius van Rijckevorsel’s 1939 International 5 Metre ‘Sensa’ and James & Sarah Kelman’s 1947 cutter ‘Croix Des Gardes’ took well over 4 hours to resolve, with victory finally going to ‘Croix Des Gardes’.
Similarly when Richard Bond’s 1938 yawl ‘Tomahawk’ lined up against Tim & Jo Blackman’s 1947 yawl ‘Infanta’, the two yachts battled it out for almost four hours before the match was finally decided in favour of ‘Tomahawk’.
The super light conditions resulted in Martin Thomas’s 1963 8 Metre ‘Charm of Rhu’ ultimately being unable to complete the course and her match against Brian Turner’s ‘Clarion of Wight’ was therefore awarded to to Turner’s 1963 sloop. Likewise Michael S Wheeler’s 1974 ‘Golden Fleece’ was the only finisher in her three-way match against Andy King’s 1929 ‘Gluckauf’ and Lance Rowell’s 1948 ‘Rubicon’.
In the all Spirit of Tradition match up between Stephen O’Flaherty’s ‘Souffriere’, Tom Hill’s ‘Dido’, Beat Kuehni’s ‘Choices’ and Sean McMillan’s ‘Flight of Ufford’, it was the Irish yacht ‘Souffriere’ that triumphed in the end, followed by ‘Dido’, ‘Choices’ and ‘Flight of Ufford’.
The closest competition was in the triple challenge match involving Pelham Olive’s 1903 gaff rigged ‘Kelpie’, Sir Michael Briggs’s 1904 ‘Mikado’ and Jonathan Cork’s 1939 ‘Athena’, which saw all three yachts finish within 35 seconds of each other. ‘Kelpie’ was the winner, just 8 seconds ahead of ‘Mikadao’ in second and sailing yacht Athena a further 27 seconds behind in third.
The only other match to be completed saw the regatta’s three 12 Metre yachts, R A Rankin’s 1985 ‘Italia’, Richard Mathews’s 1985 ‘Crusader’, and John Lister’s 1937 ‘Wings’ slugging it out, with the light airs flyer ‘Wings’ taking first, ahead of ‘Crusader’ in second and ‘Italia’ in third.
With the weather situation looking more positive for Day 4 of the regatta, the 71 boat fleet will return to regular fleet racing in the form of a long inshore race in and around the environs of the Solent.
View a list of luxury classic sailing yachts available for yacht charters here.
