Download PDF - Oyster News 66 - Oyster Yachts

Sunshine in the Solent... continued
The following morning, a fresh 16-18 knot easterly breeze greeted the fleet as they cleared
Portsmouth and assembled off Gilkicker Point for a windward start out of the Solent and
across to Bembridge Ledge before running back to Cowes and the Royal Yacht Squadron
finishing line.
It has to be said that the standard of sailing at Oyster regattas has improved steadily over the
years. Steve Powell, who by his own admission is a novice to the racing scene, made what
was to be the start of the week in his new Oyster 62 UHURU, arriving at the Pin End Buoy
at warp speed within a second of the starting gun in a move that any America’s Cup crew
would have been proud of.
Champagne sailing was the order of the day, and after a vigorous beat to windward from
Bembridge Ledge to New Ground buoy, just inshore of the Nab Tower, David Wansbrough
and Prue Moon’s Oyster 47 Jubilate judged a perfect lay line to lead the fleet back to Cowes.
Most boats carried spinnakers and the only mishap was to Richard Matthews’ Zig Zag
whose cruising chute failed at the head shortly after setting, but luckily the crew were able to
recover most of it pending a big visit to the sail loft. There was a spectacularly close finish
between UHURU and the Oyster 68 Starry Night, both yachts crossing the finishing line at
10 knots under spinnaker within a matter of seconds of each other.
With two races to sail on the last day of the regatta, the RYS Race Officer sent the fleet west
against the tide with a series of cross Solent up wind legs, which allowed the bigger yachts
to stretch away. As usual the standard of racing was high and, as this was the last day, all
crews were doing their very best to coax that elusive extra tenth of a knot. >
OYSTER REGATTA COWES 2008
“Steve Powell, who by his
own admission is a novice to
the racing scene, made what
was to be the start of the
week in his new Oyster 62
UHURU, in a move that any
America’s Cup crew would
have been proud of.
”
FAR LEFT: Close racing between Steve Powell’s
Oyster 62, UHURU and Richard Smith’s
Oyster 655, Sotto Vento
ABOVE LEFT: The Race Committee at the
Royal Yacht Squadron
ABOVE RIGHT: José Alvarez’s Oyster HP68,
Starry Night, overall winner of Class 1
www.oystermarine.com 17