Bénéteau Cup
August 21, 2007 0 comments
A family affair and in many ways as important to the yachting industry as a grand prix event.
Bénéteau Cup, Cowes 16TH-19th August 2007
Family Affair
If you only like your racing fast, furious and ultra-competitive then the Bénéteau Cup is probably not for you. However, events like the Bénéteau Cup have just as important part to play in the sport as the championship or grand prix events.
It is a great nursery for generations of toddlers and teenage sailors to get introduced to keel boat racing. For the seasoned racers, it serves as a reminder, that to truly enjoy sailing, it is important to go to a regatta just for the fun of it, to revitalise your passion for the sport. Some good results thrown in make the event even more satisfying, but to see new or inexperienced sailors getting hooked on the sport is great for the soul.
The UK version of the Bénéteau Cup has been running since 1989 and the organisation of the event is extremely well managed by a good team. The Royal Corinthian offer excellent race management and excellent facilities after racing with food and drink worthy of the finest London restaurants. Bénéteau provide sponsorship and Ancasta’s, the team, to make the regatta run smoothly.
On the water, there are several classes of events from the competitive fleet racing to the less arduous treasure hunt. The standard of sailing is not America’s Cup but that is not the point; I can not remember an event when I have seen so many children and teenagers out in keel boats. The Bénéteau Cup was won by Addiction, a smartly sailed 40.7, the owner must have had four or five children up to claim prizes. Kids love winning prizes, for them it is like an extra birthday, they remember the day, they associate sailing with fun and excitement.
Second overall was Tim Spalding’s 40.7,Loveshack. Overall IRC National Champion and winner of Black Group at Skandia Cowes Week. However, there were only a couple of regular crew on board, there must have been close to ten very young children and teenagers aboard. These young sailors have been in boats since they could walk and probably before, they are the future top yachters, events like the Bénéteau Cup enable them to race keel boats, not as passengers but in real positions around the boat.
Third overall was Stuart Hemingway’s 40.7, Beam, the crew are a blend of family and friends several of which had done little sailing before. However it was fairly obvious that Hayden Jones had a considerable amount of yachting knowledge, at 14 years of age he is an excellent mid-bow with a great future in yachting if he has the commitment. On a personal note, I was part of Stuart Hemingway’s crew and was pushed forward to mast. I can’t remember the last time I never got into the cockpit for any of the race but I thoroughly enjoyed to days with ‘the staff’ forward of the shrouds.
The evening entertainment was extremely well organised by Trish Jenkins of J2PR with Saturday night being a real blast. The Dubarry Spectacular Rumble in the Jungle Ball at Cowes Yacht Haven was great fun; spectacular decoration and atmosphere, great food, and live music by King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys on stage plus DJ. Several hundred crew turned up dressed Jungle stylie with the dance floor awash with big cat leotards and army camouflage. For me the best fancy dress was undoubtedly the crew that re-enacted the Fraser and Ali boxing match including cheerleaders, master of ceremonies and their own boxing ring. One of the crew was holding up part of the ring, dressed in blue with blue face paint. I asked him what he was. He replied; the blue corner!!
The Bénéteau Cup is not a grand prix sailing event but it is a breeding ground for young sailors and an event where seasoned campaigners can go back to there roots, to recharge a love affair with sailing.
Details of the Bénéteau Cup can be found at:http://www.beneteaucup.co.uk
Thanks to Ingrid Abery for use of the pictures;http://www.hotcapers.com
