News - 19/08/14

The inaugural Etchells Invitational Regatta, hosted by the Royal Thames Yacht Club with yachts berthed at CHC’s Shepards Wharf Marina, was an outstanding success and we are extremely pleased to announce that a 2015 event has already been confirmed. Save the dates 31st July to 5th August 2015 in your diary for the second Etchells Invitational Regatta, which will again be run out of Shepards Wharf Marina. 

There is an excellent video of the 2014 Etchells Invitational Regatta below. 

Cowes Etchells Captain David Franks did a fantastic job of organising the 2014 event – the first of its kind worldwide amongst the 1,500 strong Etchells fleet – and has laid down quite a model for others to follow!

America’s Cup coach Andrew Palfrey of Houston Yacht Club who was competing, said: “Cowes is one of the most interesting places to sail, it’s just such a challenging place.” He continued, saying that any one of 12 out of the 20 boats could win in his opinion, an oblique reference to the many world champions present amongst the international teams.

You can hear more from Andrew Palfrey, David Bedford, Jeanne-Claude Strong, Graham Sunderland and other Etchells competitors, as well as see fantastic footage of the Isle of Wight, Cowes, Shepards Wharf, and great close up shots of the competitive racing in the video below:

• See also: Shepards commissions new hydraulic crane