By Isle of Wight Observer
A record 52 entries took part in the Royal Solent Yacht Club’s 60th anniversary of Folkboat Week.
Racing was across two divisions: the Open Division for Nordic Folkboats, raced as one design and the Classic Division, a mixture of UK Folkboats and Nordics raced on handicap.
The celebrations began with international team racing across two days, incorporating part of Folkboat Week, and five teams competing for the Walcon Cup.
Six guests from Denmark joined in the racing and were contending to retain the trophy. These included: Per Buch, the Nordic Folkboat International Association Chairman and Ditte Andreasen daughter of Erik Andreasen the first winner of the Walcon Cup in 1989.
This trophy has only ever been won by a Danish team until this year. Winning the trophy for the first time for the UK, this year’s winners were team ‘Gybng Swan’ comprising of 669, Gybe ‘N’, Cy Grisley and 702, Svane, Harry Hall.
Onshore, to start the week, there was a welcome party for more than 120 guests who were welcomed by Royal Solent Yacht Club Commodore, John Poyner and President of the UK Folkboat Association, Graham Coulter.
In recognition of this being a milestone year before the racing began, there was a Sail Past with the salute being taken by IW Lord Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, who was joined at the end of Yarmouth Pier by Nick Bradley, Rear Commodore Sailing (RSYC) and David Fox, Folkboat Week organiser.
Across the week there were a series of nine races for both divisions. These varied from a long race west out of the Solent to Christchurch Ledge and back, compared to three shorter back-to-back windward / leeward races.
Each day has its own trophy awarded and competition was so tight at the top of the leader board in the open division that a different boat won each day. The final placing for the top three winners in both divisions was very close and not decided until the final race of the week.
The top position in the Classic Division was so close that it was decided on count back with the top two boats finishing on 19 points.
Overall Winners: Open Division: 707 – Madelaine, helmed by John Wulff visiting from Denmark owned by Ed Donald of the Royal Solent Yacht Club. On board, as a crew member, was Madelaine Donald, daughter of the owner and the boat’s namesake.
Classic Division: 764 – Kingdom Come, Dirk and Sally Kalis, Royal Solent Yacht Club.