NEWS

Despite a fire at a boatyard in West Cowes on the Isle of Wight, which destroyed 17 Etchells keelboats. David Franks, the Cowes Etchells fleet captain, reports that the class had rallied after the incident and that the Etchells World Championship, to be held in Cowes this summer, will be unaffected and is set for an impressive turnout of world class sailors from all over the world.

Eddie Warden Owen, Ossie Stewart and Adrian Friend have bought an Etchells to campaign for the 2016 World Championships which will be held in the Solent in September. Eddie, an ex professional sailor and coach to Americas Cup teams is better known for his offshore racing exploits winning the Admirals Cup in the 90’s with British and Italian teams. He is now Chief Executive of the London based Royal Ocean Racing Club who has moved their Race Office to Cowes following the successful merger with the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes. The combined club with over 4000 members is the largest UK yacht club with a third of its members based overseas.