F-33R Wins Multihull Class in Scandia Cowes Week
August 31st, 2004
Skandia Cowes Week is the largest annual sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon, with almost 1,000 yachts and 8,000 competitors taking part. The eight-day event, which has been running since 1826, is great for sailors and visitors alike, with an exciting racing schedule afloat and a packed social programme on shore throughout the Week.
A new multihull section was added for the 2004 event, which was won by Brian Haynes with his F-33R Carbon Tiger II, and the official web site reported on the multihulls in Race 7 as follows:
Possibly the most exciting class of the week for the shoreside spectators has been the multihulls, making their debut appearance as a class this year. Today they were flying hulls with the crews decked out in spray resistant ski mask goggles as the five strong class tore around a 26 mile course up as far as Lymington in the Western Solent. Brian Haynes sailing Carbon Tiger 2 took a massive 15 minute corrected time victory in his glamorously named Farrier F33R from the Firebird, Gerber Firebird of the Fildes, Pigett, Larson partnership. Stunning racing from a stunning class and we look forward to seeing them at next year’s event!
F-33 crew member Keith Bliss said it was the best weeks sailing he has ever done, while Carbon Tiger scored the maximum possible points, winning 6 out of the 8 races.
Best speed recorded by GPS during the racing was 24.6 knots - a great effort by Brian and crew.