Contest Yachts early summer regatta success
Performance bluewater specialist Contest Yachts of Holland reports another good year for its annual regatta and rallying events in early June: the Sevenstar Contest Cup in home port Medemblik, Holland, and the Sevenstar Contest Meeting Mallorca, sailed this year out of Porto Adriano with a rolling, racing itinerary ending in the Bay of Palma.
SEVENSTAR CONTEST CUP
Sailed over the weekend of 2-4 June in the very best of early northern summer sailing weather, the Sevenstar Contest Cup drew a good fleet of 33 Contest yachts from 31-62ft (9-19m) for this enjoyable event which offers fun but competitive racing and also a programme of social sailing for the less competitive. A great way to broaden involvement and also, of course, conversation in the very social evening gatherings.
Racing was in three divisions: two over and under 40ft (12m), with for the first time a third, single class start for the Contest 42CS with a six-strong line up of this impressive, multi-role performance cruiser. Four races were run over two days with the fleet settling into their own pattern after the first race which threw in a 250° wind shift to challenge tactics and rationale before fairer winds settled in for the weekend of straight, fun racing.
In the under 40ft Class, Contest 31HT Skylla played the strongest hand with a 1,2,1,1, followed by Contest 35 Dione, with 3,3,3,2 over Contest 35 Paperino which had looked set for 2nd overall until a dnf in the fourth race sunk an otherwise good 2,1,2 challenge. Over 40ft was taken by Amica Agripina, Contest 57CS, which suffered in that first race but then swept the board with an otherwise perfect 6,1,1,1. The Muse followed into 2nd spot with 1,2,2,4 while Contest 438CS Blue Twinkle sailed 3rd with 2,2,3,5. In the new Contest 42CS division, with allowance made between carbon and metal rigs, honours went to Stella Maris with a clean sweep 1,1,1,1, then 2nd Fleur du Rocher with 2,5,2,3, and 3rd the 42CS Anne with 3,2,3,4.
While the racing played out, nine of the fleet set off on a different quest mixing sailing with exploration ashore, in a more leisurely manner enjoying local historical and hostelry discoveries in equal measure to sailing the IJsselmeer before all rejoined for the partying, dining and dancing enjoyed both at Medemblik’s top spots Café Brakeboer and Restaurant Meijer’s 2.0. A great event and terrific to see so many young sailors in the fleet, both racing and touring.
SEVENSTAR CONTEST MEETING MALLORCA
This year’s Sevenstar Contest Meeting Mallorca, hosted through 8-10 June, celebrated change with a new format, the fleet gathering in Port Adriano to the west of the Bay of Palma then racing around the coast to different venues each evening. By day, it was keen yet friendly challenges for the fleet of eight Contest yachts spanning 48-67ft (15-20m), leading into relaxing, fun evenings from beach club and games to water’s edge dining.
Again four races in two days were enjoyed, the winds following the standard Mallorcan mantra: in the absence of gradient wind, stand by your warps until the sea breeze builds, then go enjoy! And that the fleet did enthusiastically testing each other. Day One, Race One went to Contest 62CS Emrar 3, while Race Two with shortened course in the later, failing wind fell to Waldron, the exciting new Contest 67CS. Heading into Cala Llamp, a pretty bay next to Port Andratx, it was time to take a swim before an equally refreshing BBQ at Beachclub Granfollies.
After a lazy morning, the battle flags lifted to a lunchtime breeze of 13-15 knots for an upwind, downwind course before a second race into the Bay of Palma, there rounding the Isla del Sech, before anchoring near Playa Illetes for a relaxing afternoon before the evening’s prizegiving ceremony and dinner at the brand new Puro Beach Club, a wonderful waterside location. And the winners were: 1st, Contest 62CS Flying Kangaroo after a consistent 2,2,2,2; 2nd, Contest 50CS Marijn with 4,4,1,1; and 3rd Contest 55CS Amati recording 6,3,4,3.
An excellent weekend with the most beautiful sailing in good wind, sun and atmosphere. A true celebration of Contest yachting.
