International Etchells Class Association
Round up from the UK Fleet
published 04/23/2021
World J70 Champion Joins the Etchells Fleet
The current J70 World Champion, Paul Ward, has bought a Heritage Etchells to campaign for the Cowes Etchells Worlds in 2022. He follows closely on the heels of two-time World Champion, Stuart Childerley, who launched his new Heritage Etchells last year.
Cowes Week
Laurence Mead, long-term Etchells sailor, has been made Chief Executive of Cowes Week which is a new appointment combining his previous role as Regatta Director. The Etchells have their own start as one of the 42 starts each day at Cowes Week, when we may see up to 20 Etchells competing over 31st July to 7th April. Cowes Week is the largest Regatta in the world and would still be the largest even if it was half the size.
Anyone wishing to charter an Etchells for this, or any other event, contact davidfranks80@gmail.com or +44(0)7768063868.
Cowes First to Get 5G
Cowes will be the first sailing venue to be fully 5G’d in September enabling any spectator and race officers to experience exactly what is happening on the yacht in real time, including wind conditions, and later on catch-up. Anyone interested in more information about the app, cameras, and how to use the technology for your own regatta (Etchells or otherwise) should contact laurence.mead@cowesweek.co.uk
The Etchells Worlds in 2022 will have up to 50 cameras covering the event in real time coverage of all of the boats simultaneously on the app, visible worldwide, including cameras at each mark. It’s a game-changer for spectators.
Cowes Etchells Worlds 2022
The Royal Yacht Squadron, and the Cowes Etchells Fleet, are looking forward to greeting Etchells competitors in August/September 2022 for the World Championship. A state-of-the-art new Committee Boat is being commissioned ready for this event.
Post-race de-briefing:
Etchells fleets the world over are known for their camaraderie. In the Cowes fleet this year we plan to implement a short but informative de-brief after sailing on day one of an event. The setting will be informal and designed to share knowledge from the more experienced Etchells campaigners and long-time Solent warriors to those newer to the fleet and the venue.
Over recent years, I was fortunate to do a number of events in the San Diego Etchells fleet and witnessed the legendary Vince Brun facilitate discussion and ask questions of the teams that had performed well or shone in a particular area of the racing. They lasted for 15 or so minutes, including some Q and A. The feedback from those sessions was overwhelmingly positive. We plan to follow that format.
The location will be by the Etchells container at CYH. Refreshments will be provided and there will be a BBQ in operation. They will take place within 30 or so minutes of arriving back at the dock and well in advance of evening dinner bookings.
Cowes Fleet programme 2021
|
Event |
Date |
|
Bedrock Trophy |
17/18 April |
|
Sir Kenneth Preston Trophy |
1/3 May |
|
Keelboat Champs 1 |
15/16 May |
|
Red Funnel Regatta |
29/30 May |
|
Southern Area Championship |
5/6 June |
|
Keelboat Champs 2 |
12/13 June |
|
South Coast Championship |
26/27 June |
|
Cowes Classics |
5/9 July |
|
Saida |
10/11 July |
|
Keelboat Champs 4 |
17/18 July |
|
Cowes Week |
31 July/7 August |
|
European Championship |
20/22 August |
|
Keelboat Champs 5 |
28/29 August |
|
National Championship |
17/19 September |
|
Ice Bucket |
16/17 October |
All Etchells events will be on Yacht Scoring, the Keelboat Champs are not run by the Class but include Etchell Starts.