The pinnacle of the 44Cup’s 2023 season sets sail on Thursday (10 August) with the opening races of the 44Cup Cowes World Championship, and Irish Fastnet Race winner Cian Guilfoyle is competing on Frecnh entry Aleph.
The Solent, one of the most challenging stretches of water for yacht racing due to its unique tidal characteristics and numerous sand banks, shallows, ledges and spits, is currently hosting the 44Cup Cowes World Championship. The event features some of the world’s top sailors competing in the high-performance Russell Coutts-conceived one designs. This is the second time the event has been held on the Solent, and it promises to be an exciting competition.
In 2021, Hugues Lepic’s Aleph Racing won the 44Cup Cowes World Championship ahead of Team CEEREF and Team Aqua. The team is hoping to defend their title with the help of local sailor Graham Sunderland, author of Winning Tides, who is advising the French team once again. Most 44Cup teams are relying on specialist local knowledge to help them navigate the challenging waters of the Solent.
Charisma, currently ranked first in the 44Cup leaderboard and the present holder of the ‘golden wheels’ as the 2023 44Cup leader, also has a Solent specialist in legendary British Olympic coach and sailor David Howlett. Helmsman Nico Poons, who knows these waters well, has also been racing on the Solent for over 40 years. The team faces stiff competition, however, as everyone will be fast and sailing well with good coaches and support.
In addition to the eight RC44s competing in the championship, a ninth RC44, Bullet, is being sailed by an all-female team led by Louise Morton. The event is being hosted by Chris Bake, owner of Team Aqua, via his club, the Royal Yacht Squadron.
The racing started with a first warning signal at 1130 and will continue in the central Solent, with the Royal Yacht Squadron line being used for the start of Saturday’s practice racing as well.
