Cowes Etchells Fleet - Class Revival

02/13/2015

Yachts & Yachting feature article on the great things going on in the Cowes Fleet to revitalize the Etchells Fleet

Triad’s crew of John Bertrand, Jake Newman, Bill Browne win it all

01/16/2015

With a race 7 win, the Triad crew is crowned the 2015 Australian National Champion.

Eight Bells for past class Chairman, Bill Munster

01/13/2015

Internationally known World Champion yachtsman Bill Munster passed away suddenly on December 11, 2014 in Bend, Oregon at the age of 76.

Etchells IGC election results

12/19/2014

The voting period closed as of December 10, 2014 and the votes have been verified and tallied in the class office.

Etchells UK season summary

11/10/2014

After a great year Etchells racing in Cowes the renaissance continues, 4 new owners joined the fleet in 2014 with a 5th buying a boat late season in preparation to start racing in 2015, plus a 6th importing a USA boat over the winter, to race from Cowes next spring.

Electronic ballot out for IGC election and class rules changes

11/05/2014

In the new era of electronic voting for the International Etchells Class, all current active members were sent their ballots via email today, 5 November, 2014.

2014 North American Championship

09/23/2014

Elizabeth, skippered by Tom Carruthers with crew Andrew Palfrey and Chris Busch was named Etchells North American Champion as the regatta wrapped up.

Solid winds, tight competition and good camaraderie characterized the three days of racing of the International Etchells Class North American Championship, which wrapped up with two races at the Chicago Yacht Club on Sunday.

2014 European Championship

09/16/2014

3 days of racing in Weymouth Bay, sailed in generally a moderate strength shifting wind coming from a North Easterly direction. David Campbell-James was Pro for the Portland based regatta organised by the WPNSA, the location was chosen as the start of a 2 year program of Etchells events leading up to the 2016 Etchells Worlds to be held here.

2014 UK Etchells Open National Championships, 1 event 3 Champions

09/09/2014

Weymouth Bay’s weather, just like the rest of Southern England and the Western Half of Europe was dominated by high pressure, and with little or no wind forecast for the weekend. Racing on Saturday had to be abandoned from ashore during which time the fleet meet to agree an early start for racing on Sunday to commence at 08.00 when a 6-8 kt NE.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Cowes Spring Series Final Weekend Report

04/30/2014

After winning the first of these weekends Shaun Frohlich’s Exabyte, with stalwart crew of David Bedford and Duncan Truswell, scored two firsts, two seconds, and a third to be crowned Etchells Spring Series Champion of 2014.