A new era for the Etchells class

07/24/2014

A winter of development work with some of the world’s top sailors has resulted in significant improvements to the latest Etchells keelboats built by David Heritage Racing Yachts in Cowes, UK. “What we’ve done here represents the biggest changes in the class over the past 20 years,” says Andrew ‘Dog’ Palfrey, a double Etchells world champion.

Full Article

2014 World Championship

06/24/2014

Hardesty Claims Third World Title With Race to Spare NEWPORT, R.I. — Consistency is king and Bill Hardesty and crew of Stephanie Roble, Taylor Canfield and Marcus Eagan have earned the 2014 Etchells World Championship by sticking to a steady plan for success.

Full Article

Eight Bells - Bill Bennett

06/18/2014

It is with profound sadness that I inform you of the passing Bill Bennett, a popular and beloved member of our community who was in Newport preparing for the 2014 Worlds. He suffered a head injury off the water. Bill was frequently on the podium receiving awards for outstanding performances in the Etchells Class, including winning a World Championship in 2000 with Vince Brun and Rick Merriman.

Full Article

Cowes Etchells Fleet race for the Royal Thames Saida Cup, June 7/8 2014

06/10/2014

Thunderstorms and rain were forecast for the Saturdays Racing, luckily they were all over by 9 AM , so the 12 crews and race officials enjoyed 2 days of Solent in the Sunshine.

To get to the start of Hill Head the SW breeze gave the boats a great Spinnaker run across the Solent for the 11.00 start, only to die away at 10.45 before blowing a 12kt Easterly, but Jamie Clark the RTYC PRO wasn't fooled, waiting till the wind switched back to a 10Kt SW after 30 minutes or so in order to race the fleet in the tidal shelter on the Knoll plateau.

Race 1 saw Peter Rogers Highlife GBR 1331 lead a densely packed fleet to the first mark and hold his lead on the 2 lap course as the first 6 boats all finished in less than 50 seconds behind him, while “first race” boat handling errors and mark rounding incidents stretched the other 6 boats a little further behind.

Full Article

2014 Canadian Championship Announced

06/10/2014

The 2014 Etchells Canadian Championships are on the schedule. The event is being hosted August 1-3 by Ashbridges Bay YC and the LYRA organizing committee and the Canadian and Toronto Etchells Fleet. This event is part of the LYRA one Design event and is anticipated to be a great event with good sailing, up to 4 races a day, except for the 3rd day, where a maximum of 3 races is scheduled.

Full Article

Etchells Bedrock Challenge Trophy 3-5 May 2014

05/07/2014

Twelve Etchells competed for in the first classic Etchells Regatta of the year. The Bedrock Challenge Trophy is a 3-day 9-race series for a cup presented by double world champion Stuart Childerley. But it took a day and a half to get going as high pressure dominated the Solent. On day one the boats were towed out and then towed in again although there was enough breeze to sail, it was unstable and insufficient to race against the tide.  It was disappointing, but the Etchells were luckier than the many cross- channel racers who were stuck out at sea that weekend with no breeze - at least the Etchells sailors could retire to port and a comfy bed!

Full Article