The X-Yachts Solent Cup returned for 2021 over the UK spring bank holiday weekend (28-30 May) and was blessed with blue skies and superb sailing conditions in the Solent, with hosts the Royal Southern Yacht Club providing for smoothly run racing and relaxed fun shoreside.
The Family Class proved popular with participating X-Yachts owners, sporting the biggest fleet to date with some exciting racing throughout the entire fleet.
Special mentions go to Maxian, one of the few entirely family-crewed X-Yachts in the regatta who provided a super father-and-son effort, as well as the husband-and-wife team at the helm of Xc 42 Freya — the only double-handed yacht racing at the event.
X marks the spot for Xenia with Baby X behind | Credit: Rick Tomlinson
Barry Tipping and his crew travelled all the way from Dover to compete with his new X4⁰, Roxie. And particularly well sailed was Xc 38 Astrid, the smallest X-Yacht in the family fleet but plucky enough to be mixing it with the larger Xs in the Family Class.
But the class winner was Anthony Esse's X4³, Baby X, helmed by Charlie Esse to straight wins which sealed the X-Yachts Solent Cup title overall — not to mention the highly coveted X-Yachts stand-up paddle board along with many other prizes from the event sponsors.
Baby X with the fleet, including David Murray’s Irish-flagged X-50 Touche | Credit: Rick Tomlinson
“X Yachts GB excelled, yet again, putting on a fabulous, high quality weekend of sailing,” said Anthony after the event. “For any X-Yacht owner this is an absolute ‘must do’ regatta. The camaraderie and bonhomie accompanied by some excellent sailing made this a truly memorable weekend.”
In the Sports Class, varied sizes ranged from the imposing, dark-hulled X4⁶ xSabio — with a crew who had never before raced together — to the well-sailed X-302 Quickstep.
But it was the X-34 Juno, a boat under new ownership since the start of the year, which claimed the Sports Class title, winning a B&G voucher for £1,500 and many other useful items.
Sports Class winner, Simon Bottoms & William Bridge’s X-34 Juno | Credit: Rick Tomlinson
Make a note in your diaries for the next edition of the X-Yachts Solent Cup to be held on 13-15 May 2022.
