News - 2014

14:37 Wednesday 7 Aug 2013 Sue Pelling/CWLSolent Sunbeams enjoy 90th birthday celebrations

Rick Tomlinson/CWL

The Solent Sunbeams with their distinct ‘V’ sail insignia are regular visitors to Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. This year is special however, because the class is celebrating its 90^th anniversary.

When Alfred Westmacott produced the first Sunbeam 1923, little would he have known how popular and cherished the class would be 90 years on. This fun, yet highly competitive, dayboat is mainly sailed at Itchenor SC in Chichester, but there is also an active division in Falmouth, known as the Falmouth Sunbeams.

To mark the class’ anniversary year a fleet of 12 boats have made the trip across The Solent from Itchenor and, going by the sort of celebrations taking place this week at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, there is no doubt about the popularity of this 90 year old class.

One of key celebration events, the Solent Sunbeam Champagne cocktail party, took place yesterday evening at Mr and Mrs Roger Wickens’ waterside residence in Cowes. It was a pleasure to see so many enthusiasts, of all ages, joining in the celebrations.

Gayle Palmer, the class captain, spoke of the amazing support the class has received and how proud she is of the fact that the Solent Sunbeam is the longest running class at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week: “We have been competing here since 1923 except during the war years and we’ve always had a good turnout. The largest fleet was 30 boats during our 75^th anniversary.

“The class is really starting to grow again. We’ve had new boats on the water this year, we’ve just sold a wooden boat to newcomers to the class and, we have three new boats in build. We might even get 30 boats on the water next year.”

The racing this week has been exceptionally close, with new faces at the front of the fleet including Stewart Reed, who is relatively new to the class. Reed is sailing Firefly, a new glassfibre boat and has a super hot crew onboard including Rudy Jurg who has just returned from Helsinki having won the 8m world championship. This team is currently leading the series. Reed commented: “This is my 30^th Cowes Week and I am really enjoying it. I have a great crew and I am really happy with the boat.”

The competition today continues to be close with Roger Wickens in Danny (V26) keen to challenge for the lead once again. Wickens often dominates the racing at this regatta. He has had a first and a third this week, but also a 13^th so he’ll need to ensure he can dispose of that as his discard later in the week.