45 spectacular pictures as Sunbeam fleet celebrate centenary at Itchenor

By Steve Bone
Published 13th Jun 2023, 07:45 BST
Updated 16th Jun 2023, 07:44 BST
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The largest ever gathering of Sunbeams took part in a regatta celebrating their century of racing at Itchenor Sailing Club.

The Sunbeam was designed by celebrated yacht designer Alfred Westmacott in 1922 and is considered by many to be his best design. At just over 8m long they can easily be sailed by a crew of two and there are a number of husband and wife teams who race up to three times a week during the season from Itchenor SC.

The Solent Sunbeams were joined by six boats from the Falmouth Sunbeam Class which resulted in a fleet of 36 boats – which exceeded the previous record turnout by some margin.

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The boats competed in a round-robin series in Chichester Harbour in fantastic sailing conditions with moderate breezes and blue skies. The racing culminated in a single fleet race which started 3km south of the entrance to Chichester Harbour.

Action from day one of the Sunbeam Centenary celebrations one of thr 36 Sunbeams at Itchenor with a few crews from Falmouth | Picture: Chris HattonAction from day one of the Sunbeam Centenary celebrations one of thr 36 Sunbeams at Itchenor with a few crews from Falmouth | Picture: Chris Hatton
Action from day one of the Sunbeam Centenary celebrations one of thr 36 Sunbeams at Itchenor with a few crews from Falmouth | Picture: Chris Hatton

The first race was won by Roger Wickens and Tim Martell in V26 Danny, the most successful Sunbeam team in modern times.

The second was won by Peter Nicholson, Mike Hollis and Christine Graves in the first Sunbeam, V1 Dainty – a fitting result given that Dainty recently won the 2023 Classic Boat Award as Centenarian of the Year.

While Danny also won race three, former International 14 world champion Martin Jones, sailing with wife Vicky, took line honours in race four in V32 Holly. Race five was won by husband and wife team Joe and Cathy Burnie in V41 Fleury. Race six was won by Simon Perkins and Ian Stobie sailing V47 Kitty.

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With one race to go the Centenary Regatta was led by Danny by just one point from Fleury and V16 Mystery, which had only been launched on the previous day after an extensive rebuild by Haines Boatyard in Itchenor.

Danny won the final race to clinch overall victory while Fleury took fifth place to narrowly take second overall and V16 Mystery sailed by Alan Stannah, John Tremlett and William Cuthbert was third overall.

On the final day the fleet sailed in number order led by Dainty, which first raced in 1923, and ending in the latest Sunbeam, V72 Serendipity, which was launched in 2021. Crews were dressed in period costume. Later 200 guests danced the night away to end the celebrations.

See 45 pictures by Chris Hatton in the slideshow in the video player above, and see a full report and some photos in the Chichester Observer – out on Thursday.