Download PDF - Oyster News 66 - Oyster Yachts

Sunshine in the Solent... continued
“Owners and crews agreed
that this 20th regatta in the
Oyster series had been a
great success.
”
18 www.oystermarine.com
OYSTER REGATTA COWES 2008
ABOVE: The Class 1 boats battle it out,
led by José Alvarez’s Oyster HP68, Starry Night
With a strong foul tide close to the entrance to the Beaulieu river Richard Smith’s Sotto Vento
tried a little too hard to cheat the current and finished up hard aground on the side of the
shoal with the tide pressing her further aground. Try as they may, the crew could not escape
for a good twenty minutes, by which time her race was run.
The fleet were back in time for a leisurely lunch on one of the many vacant moorings off
Cowes and then once again went to the Squadron start line for the final race of the regatta.
A guest appearance from the Oyster Lightwave 48 Scarlet Oyster made an interesting
addition to the fleet and, impeccably sailed, she managed to wriggle ahead of her larger
rivals and stay there. Now used by the Ellen MacArthur Trust for introducing children suffering
with cancer to the joys of sailing, Scarlet Oyster did of course win her class in the last
Fastnet Race proving that both boat and crew are pretty slippery on the race course.
It was a perfect evening for the prize giving at the Squadron - indeed all five days of the
event had been blessed with near perfect weather. The Commodore of the Squadron,
the Lord Iliffe, presented the principal prizes and confirmed that he would very much like
the Oyster fleet to return to the club for the next event in 2010.
Owners and crews agreed that this 20th regatta in the Oyster series had been a great
success. Perhaps the overriding feature of the regatta, expressed by many owners, was the
pleasure of feeling very much part of the Oyster family. These events are a great place to
make new friends and Cowes 2008 was no exception.
Dates for the Oyster Regatta Cowes 2010 are confirmed as 19-23 July. For details about
all Oyster events please contact Liz Whitman, liz.whitman@oystermarine.com. >