News - 2014

15:25 Friday 8 Aug 2014 Sue Pelling/CWLYes! wins Black Group at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week

Photo – Rick Tomlinson/CWL

After a week of fierce competition in IRC Class 2 Adam Gosling and team on their 1991-built Corby 36 Yes! have not only won their class, but have also won Black Group for the second year running.

Gosling commenting on his win said: “To win Black Group overall for the second time in a row is fantastic news. We had some really great rivalry at the front of the fleet with Premier Flair and La Reponse, which made it all worthwhile.

“We set out to win our class but because we were the smallest boat in the class we knew it would be hard. In this situation it is a case of following the big boats round the course. Generally this determines the route you take. Going in as the smallest boat in the fleet therefore was the challenge but the key to our win was good starts. We always sailed well off the start and, although we knew we'd eventually get buried buy the slightly larger boats along the course, but by sailing well, we were able to stay ahead of them.”

Although Gosling says he has only made a couple of changes to the boat this year including a replacement jib and spinnaker, he says the upgrade to an electric backstay made a significant difference.

“By adding an electronic, hydraulic backstay we took a slight rating hit but it is an improvement on last year. The pump system we had before was quite disruptive and the mainsheet trimmer probably wasn't using the backstay enough, so we decided to take a rating hit. It has made a difference and it is a lot quieter too.”

The overall winner of White Group overall is still to be decided but interestingly enough, the team who’s currently leading and therefore in with a good chance of winning, is last year’s Aberdeen Asset Management overall winners – Squib sailor Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey in Lady Penelope.