ALL PHOTOS: Paul Wyeth
Three J-Class sailing superyachts set their sights on the Solent this week. As part of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the UK’s Royal Yacht Squadron, Lionheart, Ranger, and Velsheda raced around the Isle of Wight. While Velsheda emerged victorious, spectators on land and on private boats were treated to quite the overall spectacle over the 50-mile eastward course.
Ideal racing conditions straight from the start no doubt helped. Those conditions kept up throughout the race, with winds clocked at 20 knots at times. Some crewmembers themselves couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement. “It was a great atmosphere to be on such an iconic yacht surrounded by spectator boats, a very special experience,” says Christopher Sharples, the commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, who helmed Ranger for a portion of the race.
It was Velsheda, though, who triumphed. In fact, Velsheda got off to a head start nearly straight away. She did so with a special guest as navigator. Pete Selby, a local avid sailor, got to sail aboard the very same 1933-built yacht that he had seen stuck in the mud during his childhood. (Velsheda had been laid up in the mud in the Hamble in 1937 and was left to deteriorate. She was finally rescued in 1984 and restored.) While Selby is now back at his day job doing IT work, he won’t forget his experience. “The crew work was great,” he says. “When we asked for stuff, it happened.”
A few times along the course, Lionheart began closing the gap between her and Velsheda, but Velsheda’s crew would have none of it. Lionheart’s halyard also broke. Despite it being close until that happened, “we were never really worried at any point,” says Tom Dodson, Velsheda’s tactician. Lionheart’s tactician, John Cutler, credits Velsheda’s crew with sailing well. “They got the jump on us at the first shift after the start,” he explains. “I am kicking myself for that, but I did say before that it could down to the first cross, the first shift and that pretty much was it.”
Here’s a look at some of the action from the race.
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