Ventnor Blog

Telegraph journalist Kate Lavern, provides daily news roundups for Skandia Cowes Week and VentnorBlog have permission to reproduce her reports here for the benefit of our readers. Ed

Driving rain and a bracing Force 5 deterred many competitors from the race track on the final day of Skandia Cowes Week but the 14 remaining unclaimed trophies found worthy winners as class warfare continued to the bitter end.

Conditions in the Solent were positively wintry as gusts reached 30 knots and with big and choppy seas which gave the reduced fleet a testing last day and some brand new repair bills.

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We didn’t have a chance to get this up on Friday night, so heres the news from Friday’s sailing.

Telegraph journalist Kate Lavern, provides daily news roundups for Skandia Cowes Week and VentnorBlog have permission to reproduce her reports here for the benefit of our readers. Ed

The penultimate day of Skandia Cowes Week found the engraver poised to etch names, new and old, on some cherished silverware as the Solent was cleared of racing boats to prepare for a tumultuous fireworks display.

At the start of the day, 17 of the 37 classes had already been decided and five boats out of the 2008 entry of 976 had maintained their remarkable unbeaten records.

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Telegraph journalist Kate Lavern, provides daily news roundups for Skandia Cowes Week and VentnorBlog have permission to reproduce her reports here for the benefit of our readers. Ed

Sparkling sun, glistening seas and a decent breeze. The sixth day of Skandia Cowes Week showcased the best champagne sailing conditions, helping along the celebration of women in sailing on Liz Earle Ladies Day.

With 14 knot winds that came in as expected from the south west, the fleet enjoyed some of the best racing of the Week.

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Ventnor Cricket Club are anticipating another action packed and entertaining afternoon as they prepare to welcome the cricketing superstars of the Lashings World XI this Sunday.

The world’s most famous club cricket team, full of international players, are visiting Steephill for a fifth successive season and are sure to attract another bumper crowd to the unique and atmospheric Ventnor bowl.

The match, which starts at 2.30pm, will have added flavour after the Islanders shocked Richie Richardson’s side by winning last year’s encounter by five wickets.

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Telegraph journalist Kate Lavern, provides daily news roundups for Skandia Cowes Week and VentnorBlog have permission to reproduce her reports here for the benefit of our readers. Ed

The picture across the Solent today was one of upright masts and idle sails as the fleet in Skandia Cowes Week battled on day five with gaping holes in the wind and big ripping tides.

Winds were forecast to be mainly from the south to southwest but clearing skies led to a weak easterly sea breeze developing, which led to the course setters having to rework many of the courses.

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Telegraph journalist Kate Lavern, provides daily news roundups for Skandia Cowes Week and VentnorBlog have permission to reproduce her reports here for the benefit of our readers. Ed

The big boats were ruling the waves on day four of Skandia Cowes Week as the second Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week for Open 60s gave Pindar skipper Brian Thompson a fairytale ending.

Thompson, and a crew that included sailing celebrity Mike Sanderson, took 4 hours 13 minutes and 48 seconds to complete the 50 nm course and beat Seb Josse and Ellen MacArthur on BT into second place with Mike Golding on Ecover 3 in third.

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The Bees win the UK National Super League in a blustery and stormy day at Bournemouth.

The conditions weren’t ideal, we missed a few chances and were a bit complacent at the back but we did play some good beach soccer and in the end two good victories sealed the National Super League title with one event remaining before the UK Superfinal.

It was a shame Sociedad didn’t turn up, but being at the bottom of the league and having to travel to Bournemouth to face the Bees must have been a bit daunting.

Gianpaolo - Bees Manager

Those following Cowes Week will know that Ladies Day takes place on Thursday this week.

It all looks set to be an exciting day of racing and will finish with the presentation of the Liz Earle Ladies Day Trophy, by Dame Ellen MacArthur at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.

The award recognises those who have shown perseverance and determination against the odds and this year there are five incredible ladies (prepare to be humbled by the biogs below) nominated for the trophy.

According to the official release from Skandia Cowes Week, they are:

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Despite the problem of pesky kids, who seem hell bent on continuing to rip down the fencing that surrounds the skate park (even though they can’t use the ramps), work is continuing apace.

Huge pats on the back need to go out to John Cattle, Tom Parsons and John Baldry who have been getting really stuck in to the work and making great progress.

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The next stage for the Ellen MacArthur Trust was announced at last night’s Ellen MacArthur Trust Ball in Cowes.

The Trust takes children who have have recovered from cancer and leukaemia sailing to help them regain the confidences that they have lost during their treatment.

Skandia were announced as the sponsors of The Ellen MacArthur Trust Skandia Round Britain ‘Voyage of Discovery,’ which, starting in May 2009, will see 100 children sail around the UK stopping at 20 ports on the way.

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Telegraph journalist Kate Lavern, provides daily news roundups for Skandia Cowes Week and VentnorBlog have permission to reproduce her reports here for the benefit of our readers. Ed

The third day of Skandia Cowes Week belonged to the cannonball crews as perfect sailing conditions propelled the fleet round their courses at breakneck speed.

In the TP52 class, crews reported sustained runs in excess of 22 knots as a consistent Force 5 south westerly pushed the boats to their limits and gave them an exhilarating surf through the Solent.

A tantalising battle is developing between the front runners of IRC Class Zero, though Niklas Zennstrom posted his third win of the week in Ran with Charles Dunstone’s Rio, finishing just 27 secs behind having registered a fourth and a fifth at the weekend.

“I think we got lucky,” said Charles Dunstone, Rio’s owner who is driving the boat himself.

“The guys on Ran sail the boat very well. Yesterday we trawled our kite and the day before we got something round the rudder but today we were luckier.

“We will be doing our best to win this week. We are good in the wind and the forecast is for more wind but it is still a big hill to climb.”

Victorious Louise Morton faces new threat
Dunstone’s navigator Peter Morton was keeping a close eye on the Quarter Tonner class, where his wife Louise was putting in a blinder of a performance on her 1980 Bruce Farr designed Espada.

For the past two days, she has been runner up to Howard Sellar’s Bullet but today she stormed past the Faroux boat, winning by almost four minutes.

Next year, Louise will have another mighty contender to fend off. Her husband, who won the 2007 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup Championships on Espada has himself bought a Quarter Tonner and as part of the classes’ glorious revival, plans to restore her this winter and campaign her next summer.

Tuffers takes a spin in Juno
Phil Tufnell, the former England cricketer and King of the Jungle, was aboard the Farr 65 Spirit of Juno watching the racing in the new Ondeck 65/68 class, which in its inaugural year has attracted a field of 15 contenders, including five Farr 65s and ten Clipper 68 boats.

These boats, which are extremely user friendly for even the most novice of crews, have been made available for folk who want to ‘rock up and race’ at Skandia Cowes Week and enjoy a taste of what this event is all about.

Only seven were competing yesterday and it was Spirit of Isis with two professional crew and ten clients who completed their course first, crossing the line 90 secs ahead of sister ship Spirit of Diana.

Debutant West heads up the fleet
Bill West, the former marketing director at Skandia Life, now Skandia, and the man who famously introduced the company to the Cowes Week Regatta, is competing at Cowes for the first time in his life.

His J/109 Jo Jo Gunne, which he sails out of Lymington has produced a range of results since the first race on Saturday when he came eighth. Yesterday he posted a 22nd but today he was back in the mix with a 12th and the bit between his teeth.

Also moving up through the fleet is Matt Boyle whose results in his J/109 Shiva have steadily improved culminating in today’s win by more than three minutes with Jambo - one of four from the Royal Yacht Squadron boats focussing on training for crews under 25 - in second, and Brian Morton’s Juke Box in third.

Royal honours for Hunter 707 crew
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was on the RYS platform this morning and played his part in setting the course for the Hunter 707s using the new software that has replaced the string and pin system of old.

The 13.19nm course - RYS, Fastnet Insurance, RYA Yachtmaster, Williams Shipping, Burges Salmon, Gales HSB, RYS was presented to him for examination and was personally signed off by him before it was sent out via SMS to the competitors.

His race was won again by Betty, which has been superbly campaigned by Jon Powell and his girlfriend Sarah Norbury, editor of Practical Boat Owner. Their winning margins, this one by more than four minutes over The Ant Hill Mob and Paul Curtis’ Sparkle have been emphatic.

Daisy, the 85 year old Solent Sunbeam that competed in its first regatta at Cowes continues to impress, missing out by an agonising six secs on a class win to back-up his victory yesterday. She was beaten again by Roger Wickens’s Danny but the 85th anniversary skirmish is shaping up to be a humdinger.

Alinghi take title
There was more drama in the iShares Cup at Skandia Cowes Week when JP Morgan Asset Management capsized. Her skipper Shirley Robertson, who is due to fly out to Beijing to commentate on the Olympics tonight had surrendered the helm to the talented Paul Campbell-James but his bid for honours resulted in a broken rig and a second to last place in the series.

Alinghi finished second in the final double points race today, which was enough to secure them victory ahead of Team Origin, who in the end trailed the leaders by five points.

But Rob Greenhalgh and crew retain the Overall iShares Cup Extreme 40 Series title at the halfway point of the European series. Holmatro sailed well to hang on to third place but it was Alinghi skipper Ed Baird who received the garland at the prize-giving.

Skandia team up with the EMT for a ‘Voyage of Discovery’
Skandia have today announced where some of their attention will be turned when the association with Cowes Week comes to an end after this year’s regatta.

Skandia have teamed up with the Ellen MacArthur Trust to sponsor a special Round Britain ‘Voyage of Discovery’ for children recovering from cancer. Starting in Cowes in May 2009, the Scarlett Oyster the charity’s dedicated yacht, will visit 20 ports around the UK and finish up back in Cowes in September.

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Many thanks to Kevin for sending through this report from the Ventnor Angling and Social Club. Ed

Kevin Mole Outboards & Chandlery Open Boat Specimen Competition hosted by Ventnor Angling and Social Club took place on Sunday 27th July.

Calm and sunny weather added competitors in last weekends specimen boat open hosted by Ventnor angling and social club allowing charters and small dinghies to fish from four harbours around the Island.

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Telegraph journalist Kate Lavern, provides daily news roundups for Skandia Cowes Week and VentnorBlog have permission to reproduce her reports here for the benefit of our readers. Ed

Yachtsmen from across the world are drawn to the Solent for the testing conditions and the second day of Skandia Cowes Week proved more challenging than most as stiff winds converged with strong spring tides to make for some highly eventful and exciting racing.

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Telegraph journalist Kate Lavern, provides daily news roundups for Skandia Cowes Week and VentnorBlog have permission to reproduce her reports here for the benefit of our readers. Ed

Dark and drizzly clouds rolled away to leave the Solent swathed in warm sunshine but light variable breezes made for slow progress for the 968 craft that took to the race track on the first day of Skandia Cowes Week.

Champion Peckham maintains form in the Darings
Having been crowned the Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes just a few hours before in the pre-regatta event on Friday, Giles Peckham switched from the Laser SB3 to more familiar territory, his 47 year-old Daring Dauntless and immediately demonstrated why he is a champion of champions.

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The final preparations are taking place for an exciting return of Cowes. There’s so much on offer again this year, whether you’re into sailing or not.

Hang out on the parade and take advantage of the free live music whilst enjoying the variety of food from outlets such as the Sail for Gold Bar and BBQ (who were hear are supporting the British Olympic Sailing Team) or new for 2008, the Green’s Champagne, Seafood and Oyster bar.

If you facy having a go at sailing, Skandia have organised free one hour sailing taster sessions - check it out on the parade.

The Ellen MacArthur Trust (the official charity for the regatta) are also running a charity rowing challenge throughout the week.

Image: Copyright Simon Perry

Thanks to Helen Cunningham of Vintage Vacations for sending through this cautionary tale. Ed

I’d like to offer a ‘heads up’ to all Blog readers.

Yesterday, a lovely family from Southsea came to stay in one of our trailers.

They made the decision to leave their car at home and come on bikes. They have planned all sorts of routes for their stay, using the cycle path network but there are sometimes when you HAVE to go on the road.

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It was with great dismay last year that we learnt the P1 Powerboat Tournament would not take place at Cowes this year, but at least the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race was due to be resurrected after a three year break.

Sadly today, Powerboat P1, have announced that due to inadequate number of entries, the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes will not go ahead this year.

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TITLE RACE WIDE OPEN AFTER LEADERS ARE DEFEATED
Ventnor are back in the hunt for a fifth successive Southern Electric Premier League title after events at the top of division 2 took an unexpected twist on Saturday. While the Islanders were winning convincingly at Hook & Newnham, league leaders Rowledge were surprisingly defeated by Burridge, effectively closing the gap to just 13 between the table toppers and Ventnor, who lie third with five matches to play.

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Stuart Quarrie, CEO Cowes Week Limited has issued a statement this morning thanking Skandia for their support over the past 14 years.

We thought that there may be a clue hidden in the release, as to who would be taking over the sponsorship of one of the most famous sailing events in the World.

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We see in Yachting Monthly today that BT Openzone and Reeds Online Almanac have got together to create a competition that might be of interest to our readers.

All you have to do is nominate your local marina and you’re in with a chance to win free installation of a BT Openzone wireless broadband (WiFi) hotspot, plus a year’s subscription to BT Openzone and Reeds Online Almanac publication.

You’ll also have a chance to meet Dame Ellen MacArthur at Cowes Week, on Thursday 7th August, as a guest of BT.

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Can a bunch of fancy dressed pub runners beat a proper running club? Can a netball team beat a rugby, football, cricket or boxing club?

This is the Isle of Wight’s chance to find out!

As part of this year’s Ventnor carnival week, a brand new event is being held that we hope will encourage many people to take part, capture public imagination and captivate a large spectator audience.

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LASHINGS WORLD XI NAME GIBBS IN SQUAD FOR VENTNOR
South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs is included in the Lashings World XI squad which will take on Ventnor on Sunday 10 August at 2.30pm.

Gibbs, a brilliant attacking player, is part of the South African one day squad and is likely to face England after the Test series ends later in August.

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The Island police have sent us this appeal to help with the knocking down of a cyclist on the Ashey Road near Ryde - Ed.

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Chris Charles at the BBC sport yesterday made his predictions for who may be crowed Sports Personality of the Year 2008 and it’s great to see that Newport lass, Kelly Sotherton is being given a 9-1 chance of picking up the trophy.

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Tickets for the match with Lashings World XI at Ventnor on Sunday 10 August at 2.30pm are now on sale at the Clubhouse.

They are priced at £7.00 for adults and £3.00 for under 15’s.

Corporate Hospitality tables at £350 + vat for 10 people are still available.

Individual tickets can also be purchased if preferred, at £35 each + vat. Please contact Graeme Burnett on 07764 405023 for further details.

[image courtesy of the Old Brightonians Picture Gallery - this is not the exact team that will come to Ventnor but it was as close as I could get - Ed]