Celtic challenge for the ‘ultimate test’ in Commodores Cup
The Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup is the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s top event. And in 2016 I decided to take on the challenge in the 13th staging of this biennial event.
With my boat, the wonderful Shaitan (from Britanny) and two Scottish boats we made up the Celtic Team taking on an impressive international starting line up including two British teams, teams from Israel, Frrance and the Netherlands.
Each team of three boats with Corinthian crews take on a what amounts to the ultimate test, with a variety of races on complex waters of the Solent and the Channel. There are windward-leeward races, round the cans, overnight offshore race and a round the Isle of Wight challenge too. Whatever the weather it is always a toughie. Crews have to have stamina because it takes place over a week in late July – and winning it is definitely a team victory.
The upshot? We had a fantastic time – but we weren’t quite good enough, coming …. Last! Victory went to the French Bleu team.
Nevertheless, great to sail with my Celtic team mates, Rod Stuart and Bill Ram’s Corby 37 Aurora and Gregory Bertrand’s JPK 1010 Space Oddity.
It was a good experience. I plan to do it again, possibly in 2018. And it is great to introduce new young sailors to this calibre of yachting.”