The world’s best-known sailing regatta, has announced a new racing class for this year – the GRP Classic Class.
The decision to introduce the new class came about following a conversation Regatta Director Laurence Mead had with famous Cowes yacht designer, John Corby on the rapid evolution of yacht design after 1974, and it was agreed there are a lot of boats which were superseded by the flat bottom designs of Ron Holland, Doug Peterson et al at that time, and that those boats might enjoy a chance to race in one of the world’s largest regattas.
The new GRP Classic Class will be run for GRP production boats which have a design date and first build of before 31 December 1974. Boats must be unmodified and must be anti-fouled. Racing will take place under the IRC Rating System with an initial target rating band of 0.860 and 0.990. Boats outside this range should contact the office if they wish to race. Cowes Week Ltd can also offer assistance to owners who do not have an IRC rating in securing a low cost rating through RORC. Please contact info@lendycowesweek.co.uk for further information.
Laurence Mead, for Cowes Week Ltd added: “We’re really excited to introduce this new class to Lendy Cowes Week. Boats that would ideally fit into this class are designs from Swan, Sparkman & Stephens, Van der Stadt, Peter Norlin, Bowman, Nicholson, Dick Carter, Scampi’s – the list goes on! This is not a class for fully tricked-up older boats and, whilst there is no restriction on sails, the objective is to offer high quality racing to like-minded owners, so a full set of the latest carbon sails is not in the plan. We are looking forward to a generation of boats which may no longer have a natural home for racing joining Cowes Week in 2019.”
The lively après-sail atmosphere at Cowes Week means there are plenty of social and exciting onshore activities for sailors and the thousands of spectators who visit Cowes each year. The next edition of the regatta takes place from 10 – 17 August 2019.
From Mary Scott-Jackson
Image shows Jeremy Rogers winning the Gold Roman Bowl for the third time in 2006 aboard his Contessa 26 Rosina of Beaulieu. © Gary Blake Photomarine