Posts by Geoff Dixon
Here we go again…...!
With less than a month to the first race of our 2026 (and 92nd) season of Victory racing, there is a buzz of activity in and around Old Portsmouth.
Marks laid, Launches launched, and paint brushes flying back and forth with urgency….or panic…..
A very special thanks to all our racing mark sponsors again this year. A fine array of freshly painted buoys to acknowledge your great contribution to our class and our racing. (Expertly maintained and laid by Baker Trayte Marine!)
22-Mar-2026
By Geoff Dixon in Sailing & racing
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Victory Class Prizegiving 2025, the bigger picture(s)!
A colourful and cheerful night at Portsmouth Sailing Club on Saturday as the Class presented the season’s trophies to helm and crew from a wide cross section of the Victory Fleet. Expertly coordinated by Class Racing Secretary Mark Briggs, with the feeding and watering that followed in the capable hands of Social Secretary Mike Ellison, there were a lot of happy sailors by the end of the evening.
Amongst others, Richard Burns, winner of the first Crews Race in Z80 Shearwater, and Adrian Parnell, winner of the second Crews Race in Z74 Peregrine collected their prizes. Z75 Zilch, Z79 Zada and Z78 Ziva had their hands full as three of the most consistent winners, and Z74 Peregrine collected the Beazely Trophy for Cowes Week overall… as well as others too numerous to list as the standout boat of the season. Congratulations to them all!
The evening is also an occasion to recognise those who support the running of the class, and Class Captain John Scammell was delighted to present the Don Metcalf Memorial trophy to Phillip Jones from Portsmouth Sailing Club who unfailingly supports the class in so many ways.
The Captains Decanter is presented by the Class Captain to a member who has made a particular contribution to the class and been supportive above and beyond. As the final presentation of the evening it was an emotional moment for all concerned as Maxine Reeves received the decanter for exceptional support over the last 12 months and indeed for her support and participation over many years.
A full set of photos from the evening can be viewed at the following address ==> https://dixong1.smugmug.com/Victory-Class/Prizegiving-2025
24-Nov-2025
By Geoff Dixon in Social
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Victory Class Prizegiving 2025
Behind the blue door….. the Victory Class met to celebrate its 91st season in 2025 with a prizegiving at its spiritual home of Portsmouth Sailing Club. Spirits, beer and wine flowed on Saturday night as those with trophies to collect were recognised and cheered by their fellow sailors. None more so then the winner of the coveted Beazley Trophy for Cowes Week overall, Z74 Peregrine, winning for a second year after a gap in 2024… Duncan, Tom and Adrian had plenty of reasons to raise a glass.
21-Nov-2025
By Geoff Dixon in Social
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