Posts by Geoff Dixon

​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

​More photos to follow…......

With ‘Zilch’, John, Max and Simon in second place, and ‘Ziva’, helmed by Jim Downing with Zoe and Felix in third, the week delivered a demanding set of races to the class that required consistency, skill and endurance in equal measure. With only seconds separating the leading boats in several races it gave a great example of how competitive the class remains in its 91st year!

Congratulations to Will Denby sailing Z74 Peregrine on a well deserved win!

Further photos at the following link ==> Visitors 2025

It would be a short first race, with a start at 7 and sunset before 8, there was no time to waste. So with a course set to BT - Yola - PSC - Yola, and a 5 minute countdown, the fleet were away at 7 with no delay.

There was a familiar feel to this one. Z74 with Tom Hartridge at the helm carried on where he left off last year, with a spot on start at the committee boat end, with Z75 and Z54 on his heels. A difference of opinion up the first beat saw some boats early into the Haslar Wall, with some holding out for the west going tide. At BT 74 held the lead, and a tight group including 75, 79 and 78 held the starboard gybe down the run, while 54 gybed to port and ran down closer to the wall.

The inshore track paid, by the bottom mark ( ‘Yola’) Tom and 74 still held the lead, but 54 was into second place, and 78 had stormed through to be close behind in third. With the light fading we all knew there would only be a short beat and run left. 74 and 54 up the middle, some boats hard left, and 78 hard right to the wall. The wall was not the place this time however, and by PSC 74 and 54 held on, but 78 was back in a pack of boats with 75, 79 and 80 fighting for 3rd place. It was only a short run…. but 79 managed to pull out of the pack. At the line, 74, 54, 79.. The Taylor Trophy for Z74 and Tom and Duncan. The sun slipped below the horizon…..

Many thanks to Sid and Liz for seeng us thought the first race… well done Peregrine for the first trophy!

A fitting place to celebrate our 90 years of dayboat racing and class history, surrounded by 830 years of Naval presence, in the shadow of Nelsons ‘Victory’ and with the 500 year old hull of the ‘Mary Rose’ as a backdrop. The prizegiving for the 2024 season included the Beazley Trophy for overall Cowes Week presented to Russell Mead and “Shearwater”, the Don Metcalf Memorial Trophy presented to Mike Ellingson by the Directors for his support, and the Captains Decanter for services to the Class also to Russell Mead. We were joined by past class captains and Cowes Week winners for a memorable evening.

More Photographs to follow..