Contessa 26 National Championships at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club

The Contessa 26 championships were held over the weekend of the 7 and 8 September in conjunction with the Contessa 32 class championships and was extremely well hosted by Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club. This was the second year of the 26 championships and with growing numbers an event improving in stature and competitiveness coupled with a lively social aspect.

There were 3 championship divisions within the fleet (1) the Racing Championship run on IRC ratings, (2) the Cruising Division Championships and (3) the Non Spinnaker Championships, and this versatility proved a popular and successful regatta format.

Two windward leeward races were run on Saturday, followed by a round the cans race finishing off Cowes to bring the fleet back to the town. Light winds initially in the morning led to a short postponement waiting for the breeze which when it settled gradually increased throughout the day to a solid 20 kts by the end of race 3. Race Officer Andrew Millband provided excellent courses and race management throughout the day. On Sunday a round the cans race was sailed starting and finishing at the Shrape,

In the Racing IRC rated division the new 2013 champions are Nick Morgan and Oliver Pettifer in Rooie Raker who sailed a very good and consistent series scoring an impressive 1,1,2, and 1. Finishing in second place 4 points behind was Jiminy Cricket last years champion owned by Mike and Barbara Harrison. Chris Charlesworths beautifully race prepared Meow was in third place followed in fourth by Sam Wilds Sulali who were unfortunate to suffer a setback to their regatta scoring with a dnf in race 3 when they had headsail damage.

A very popular Cruising Division Championship win was achieved by the Associations hard working secretary David Houlton sailing Elinor, which he has had the pleasure of owning for 33 years now. Second and third place had to be settled going to a tie break with honours going to Red Dragon (Ben Pugh) just, over Thosand Knights (Richard Pickance).

In the Non Spinnaker Championship division the winner this year was Mike and Diana Lyndsey's well sailed Me-Mo. The results were close and the overall win went to a tie break, over Ken Smarts also well sailed Tanis, Mike and Dianas extensive cruising mileage together possibly giving them a useful edge in what turned out to be a double handed class as well as Non spi. Fizelle finished behind them in third place.

Overall a splendid weekend of class racing was enjoyed by the fleet, handicaps are so close it is almost a one design concept and a number of race results were close, in the Racing IRC rated fleet just one second separated first and second places in race 3 and in Race 2 in the Cruising and Non Spi divisions race just 3 seconds separated 3 boats with another boat a mere 38 seconds away.

Full results can be found on the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club website.

If you finished in the top ten at the Contessa 26 nationals then enter your Gear Guide information here.