News - 2014

10:00 Friday 23 May 2014 Sue PellingSail for Victory: Bumper entry expected as Victory class celebrates its 80th anniversary

The Portsmouth-based Victory class with its distinct ‘Z’ sail insignia, is a regular visitor to Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, and in its 80th year, at least 20 boats are expected to compete including the oldest boat (Z6, pre war), and the latest glassfibre boats (hopefully Z80).

As a special honour in its anniversary year, the class will take the first start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line on Monday 4 August, for the Royal London Yacht Club Victoria Cup. The class will also be on ‘centre stage’ off the Green on the evening of Wednesday 6 August for a special celebrity invitational event, and will host a series of evening events including a drinks party at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Commenting on the Week, Gareth Penn, Victory Class Captain, said: "The Victory Class is very grateful to Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week for supporting us in our 80th anniversary celebrations. Cowes Week marks the culmination of our season and our 80th anniversary and we're looking forward to some great racing at this great regatta." 

The Victory class has become popular in recent years with a healthy fleet of boats racing regularly in Portsmouth. In its first Wednesday evening series of the season for example, a total of 13 boats were on the startline.

Penn says the reason the class has become popular over the last few years is because of the people and class development: “We put it down to the passion our members have for the boats, combined with the introduction of glassfibre boats (built by David Heritage). Since then the fleet size has continued to increase.”

He also says the location of the class is an added attraction: “The boats live either in Haslar Marina, Gosport, where we have a 'Victory Village' made up of purpose-built pontoons (narrow width), or on swinging moorings next to the Gosport Ferry Pontoon, which gives us the enviable position of being able to meet in Old Portsmouth at 6pm and be racing by 7pm. We also have a fleet in Gibraltar and we regularly visit each other for great, competitive racing. We particularly like visiting Gibraltar because of the better weather.”

As well as the fun-packed schedule of events during Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, the class is holding an 80th anniversary dinner on HMS Victory on 27 June, followed by class participation in the Portsmouth Regatta on 28-29 June. Also, on 5 July, for the first time ever, the Victory fleet will race around the Isle of Wight.