Sue Pelling reports on RCYC’s success at Cowes Week 27 Aug 2015
Burnham Squib and RS Elite teams return to east coast with premier trophy
The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham, has secured an overall win of the Cowes Combined Clubs 50th Anniversary Team Trophy at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2015.
The Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham team that successfully took the Trophy back to the East Coast includes Lady Penelope (Squib class winners, Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey), Aeolus (RS Elite class winners Jono, David and Lyn Brown) and Helmut Shöing II (Squib fifth placed, Nigel and Jack Grogan). They sailed impressively throughout the week and were recognised for their consistent team performances in the 800-strong fleet.
Malcolm Hutchings and Andy Ramsey, not only managed to secure a class win for the fifth year in a row, from the ultra-competitive, 30-strong Squib fleet, but for the last two years (2013, 2014) won White Group, and were winners of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week overall, which was a huge achievement. Although they were unable to make it an overall Cowes Week win hat trick this year, their performance was equally outstanding.
Fellow Squib sailors Nigel and Jack Grogan also performed well and included two first places in their results. Their fifth place overall, plus an overall RS Elite class win from Jono Brown sailing with his parents – David and Lyn – was more than enough to lift the overall team Trophy.
Other notable Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham successes at Cowes Week 2015 include Katie Cole who was part of the winning team in the International Dragon class aboard Eric Williams’ Ecstatic.
As Burnham on Crouch clubs prepare for the start of Burnham Week this weekend (29 August to 5 September, 2015) and the 707 National Championship (2-5 September), the town celebrates the team’s achievements. Annie Reid – commodore Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham commented: “ The recent team win at Cowes really endorses the club’s reputation as one of the most historically successful east coast clubs and I look forward to welcoming the team and fellow club members on the start line on Saturday.”
To clear up any confusion relating to the Royal Corinthian YC team, it was Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham that won the Team Trophy, and not Royal Ocean Racing Club incorporating Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Cowes, as announced at the Cowes Week prizegiving. Since its amalgamation with the RORC in November 2014, the Cowes-based Royal Corinthian YC is totally unconnected to the Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham.
Reid concluded: “In 2014 the RCYC (Cowes), which had been set up as a branch of the main Club at Burnham on Crouch but had always been autonomous, decided to merge with the Royal Ocean Racing Club. This gave RORC a South Coast base. Although the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club retain a friendly relationship with their former branch Club at Cowes, and agree to them flying their burgee at a few traditional sailing events, there is now no link between the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Burnham on Crouch and the RCYC (Cowes)."