Cowes Keelboat Youth Charity 2025
Congratulations to all our incredible competitors, dedicated sponsors, and passionate supporters for making our inaugural year such a resounding success! With all four of our boats racing fiercely this season, we couldn’t be prouder. As we look forward to the 2026 season, we will start the New Year with CKYC boats supporting the Cowes Etchells, Keelboat & Youth Academy. Together, we’ll continue to make Etchells an exciting, challenging, and rewarding class to be involved in and part of.
Royal Thames Prize giving November 7th November
CKYC Sailors attended the Royal Thames Prizewinners Dinner in Kensington. Ziggy collected the King of Spains Cup for their win in an Etchells in IRC3 on the Sunday of Cowes Week 2025. The fantastic hospitality of the Royal Thames and dazzling display of silverware made for a very enjoyable evening. Congratulations team Ziggy!
Saida Cup October 18th-19th
The last Cowes Etchells Regatta of 2025, the Saida Cup. Eleven teams entered, including two CKYC boats, Pulse (Heather Quinn) and Shamal (Helena Coombs). A dramatic end to the regatta for Pulse, who ended up being hit by Exabyte and Ada; thankfully, all were uninjured.
Pulse finished 7th overall, 3rd Corinthian, and 4th youth team. Shamal finished 8th overall, 4th Corinthian, and 3rd youth.
Ice Bucket – Women’s Championships October 4th-5th
Unfortunately, Saturday was blown out by Storm Amy, but six boats were still keen to fight it out on Sunday, including Heather Quinn and her team on Pulse. On a breezy Sunday, six boats lined up. A close set of races saw Heather and Pulse finish in sixth but first Corinthian and first Youth. A very competitive fleet saw several Olympians join the fleet, including Shirley Robertson, Hannah Snellgrove, and Sarah Ayton.
David Franks Cup September 20th-21st
Three CKYC boats took part in the David Franks Cup. Mano and Harry Blythe led the CKYC fleet, coming 6th overall, 1st Youth and 1st Corinthian. Pulse and Heather Quinn came 12th, 2nd Youth and 4th Corinthian, and Shamal with Thalya Ambroziak came 13th, 3rd Youth and 5th Corinthian. Thirteen boats competed in six races in a varied weekend of sailing. Saturday was overcast with a strong southerly breeze, while Sunday switched to a light but sunny northerly. The Lee on Solent air show was an occasional distraction, with Spitfires performing overhead.
Robert Watson Memorial Trophy September 6-7th
Two CKYC boats took part in the RWMT weekend. Tango and Chris Hampton once again took the overall title. Pulse and Heather Quinn came 7th, 2nd Youth, and 3rd Corinthian. Shamal and Thomas Goodman came 9th, 3rd Youth, and 5th Corinthian after an issue with a halyard on the first day’s racing.
South Coast Championships August 23-25th
Two CKYC boats took part in these championships. Tango and Chris Hampton took the overall title. Mano and Harry Blythe scored an 8 and were placed 2nd Corinthian boat. Pulse and Heather Quinn came 11th and 4th Corinthian after an unfortunate start to the championships.
Island Sailing Club Tuesday Night July 2025
Ziggy 17th June 2nd IRC, 24th June 1st IRC, 1st July 3rd, 8th July 1st IRC, 22nd July 2nd and 29th July 1st. Ziggy is currently leading both the IRC and ISC Handicap series in Class 2 with only 2 races to go!
Etchells Southern Area Championship 12th – 13th July
9 boats took part in the Southern Area Championships. Heather Quinn in Pulse was the highest placed CKYC boat finishing in 5th. Shamal and Thomas Leather sailing for Gurnard Sailing Club came 9th.
Etchells European Championships 2025 3-6th July
A good showing by the CKYC boats for the National Championships. Mano and Harry Blythe 8th and Thomas Leather in Shamal 12th.
A big congratulations to No Dramas for the Championship win.
Taittinger RSYC Regatta 4-6th June
Ziggy took part in the Taittinger RSYC Regatta sailing under IRC, a 2nd, 3rd and 3rd Secured the class win in very challenge conditions 30knts + on the Saturday. The Etchells is proving itself to be a very competitive IRC boat,
Island Sailing Club Tuesday Night 10th June
Sorry we spoke too soon! a 2nd in ISC /IRC for Ziggy in tonights race.
Island Sailing Club Tuesday Night 20th May
Another 1st for Ziggy in the IRC / ISC handicap series! Keep it up team Ziggy!
International Bedrock Trophy 24th -26th May
The 2025 edition of the International Bedrock Trophy took place over a wet and wild May bank holiday weekend, and was hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club. The event formed as round 2 of 6 for the Cowes International Series, and with Etchells Mano putting in a very strong performance at the Sir Kenneth Preston trophy previously, they were set to defend their lead from close competitors such as Palaver, who also had a strong start to the Cowes International Series.
Sir Kenneth Preston Regatta 3-5th May
Congratulations to Harry Blythe and Mano for a fantastic win beating the competition by a 5 point margin. Thomas Goodman and Shamal managed a 9th and Heather Quinn and Pulse came 10th on count back.
Island Sailing Club Tuesday Night 29th April
A second win for Ziggy in both IRC and ISC handicap proves the Etchells to be a very competitive boat in class 2. Smiles all round!
Island Sailing Club Tuesday Night 22nd April
Dylan and Biba Downer in Ziggy took part in the 1st race of the ISC Tuesday night series. A win in both IRC and ISC handicap put smiles on everyone’s faces.
Etchells Red Funnel Regatta 12/13 April
8 Boats took to the water including two Cowes Keelboat Youth Boats. Mano with Sam Barnes- Thornton Driving was the highest placed boat with a 5th overall, a 2nd and a 3rd in race 1 and 4 shows promise for the future. Heather Quinn came a close 6th in Pulse to Sam with only 2 points separating them, a 3rd in race 2 was their highest score,
April cont….. 2025
Cowes Keelboat Youth Charity has now chartered out its four Etchells to Youth teams for the 2025 season. Harry Blythe will Take Mano, Heather Quinn in Pulse, Thomas Leather / Cameron Gardner, Shamal and Ziggy will be used to encourage Cowes youth teams initially by Dylan and Biba Downer.
April 2025
The Cowes Etchells Fleet got the season well and truly underway with the Spring Championships that is part of the Cowes National Series, hosted by the Royal London Yacht Club that also incorporated the Youth Academy trials for 2025. 3 Youth teams were in the hunt to confirm their spot CKYC funded Etchells for the 2025 season. The weekend forecast was set to be perfect, with a complete range of 12-20 knots from a east-northeast direction, clear skies and sun also came to join the fleet for a great weekend of racing. Youth academy teams also hit the water the day prior to the event to secure some last minute training on the water before the event. Congratulations to Cameron Gardner and Shamal who was awarded the Ben F Wood trophy, this silverware is presented to the highest placed youth academy boat at the Etchells Youth Academy trials.
March 2025
The Royal London Etchells Youth Academy 2025 is now coming to an end the five youth teams have had a very successful Academy and all teams have made massive progress. The Academy will come to head at the Spring Championships at the start of April.
Cowes Keelboat Youth Charity has pledged the winning team an Etchells to race for the 2025 season!
February cont…..2025
The Royal London Etchells Youth Academy 2025 has got underway with 5 teams including teams from Oxford, Cambridge and Bournemouth Universities. Cowes Keelboat Youth Charity is proud to support the Academy with loan of 5 boats. 3 training camps have taken place so far and all crews have made excellent progress.
February 2025
The Cowes Keelboat Youth Charity held its first training session with local Cowes youth sailors.
Dylan and Biba got a taste of what the Etchells is capable of, and not even the grey skies or brisk easterly wind could wipe the smiles from their faces.
January 2025
The Cowes Keelboat Youth Charity is proud to support the Royal London Etchells Youth Academy Program, offering young sailors the opportunity to train over five weekends this winter, culminating in a final selection for a fully expensed season on an International Etchells Class Yacht.
Over the past seven years, more than 400 young sailors have participated, with many going on to compete against some of the world’s best.
https://www.rlyc.org.uk/the-club/royal-london-etchells-youth-academy–1
Cowes Keelboat Youth Charity 