GUSTY conditions yesterday (Sunday) made for challenging sailing at Lendy Cowes Week with boats across the classes experiencing rig damage, groundings and collisions.
Gusts topping 25 knots made for exciting viewing at the Royal Yacht Squadron line with many of the larger Black Group yachts experiencing multiple broaches and spinnaker wraps.
Yesterday's highlights included the Fast40+ class. Peter Morton's Girls on Film was leading by two minutes, approaching Baxters buoy located near Gurnard Head when she hit a rock.
"We had dropped our spinnaker and we were about to round the mark," explained Morton.
"We frantically waved at the boats behind to alert them - Invictus and Rebellion were approaching really fast."
In the fracas Invictus and Rebellion had a minor collision. A fourth boat in the fleet suffered damage when the topmast of 42 South broke above the upper spreaders.
In the end, Invictus and Girls On Film drew first place.
Yesterday was family day, celebrating the family bonds brought about through sailing.
The Squib class saw many family members taking part and many pitched against each other in different boats.
"We have a huge number of family connections across the fleet," said class captain Steve Warren Smith.
Cowes Race School took a top place with Zero in the IRC Class One.
Today (Monday) is Charity Day, with the spotlight on official charity, the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.
After racing there will be a Big Bash party at Cowes Yacht Haven from 7pm.