THE 15th annual Small Ships Race got underway off the Isle of Wight on Saturday, despite crews having to contend with thick fog and gale-force winds on the Solent.

The Cowes-based event, organised by the Association of Sail Training Organisations, featured 22 sailing vessels crewed by 190 trainees, aged between 12 and 24.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Action from the Association of Sail Training Organisations Small Ships Race off Cowes.  Photo: Max Mudie

They raced west from the Royal Yacht Squadron’s start line to Lymington and back.

New additions to the fleet this year, the ferro-cement ketch Tenacity of Bolton, and the junk-rigged wooden yacht, Boleh — both with young crewmen from the Isle of Wight on board.

Isle of Wight County Press:

The crew of the Discovery Sailing Project enjoying the Small Ships Race on Saturday.  Photo: Graham Brown

UKSA Ambition also had a crew of young sailors from the Island on board.

The D class winner was yacht Amaryllis, crewed by the Combined Cadet Force, with the C2 class won by Solent Hero, crewed by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, based in Cowes.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Small Ships Race action on the Solent on saturday morning.  Photo: Graham Brown

Class C1 was won by Rona II, who also won overall.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Small Ships Race action on the Solent on saturday morning.  Photo: Graham Brown

                                         ALL THE RACE RESULTS

Class D (boats flying spinnakers): 1 Amaryllis, 2 Jolie Brise, 3 Scaramouche; Class C1: 1 Rona II, 2 Thermopylae Clipper, 3 Donald Searle; Class C2: 1 Solent Hero, 2 Merrilyn, 3 Discovery; Class B (gaff rigged vessels): 1 Maybe, 2 Morning Star of Revelation, 3 Pegasus; Bloodhound Cup for youngest average age crew: Pegasus (16.8 years old); Seven Seas Trophy for fastest around the longer course: Rona II; Glenlee Cup for fastest around the shorter course: Scaramouche; Aurora Trophy for fastest on corrected time: Rona II; Richard Langhorn Trophy for the ‘Spirit of the Race’: Merrilyn.