GP42 42° South Shines at 2019 Cowes Week

Cowes, Isle of Wight (August 17, 2019) – Mark Rijkse’s Reichel/Pugh-designed GP42 42° South (ex-Seawonder 007) shone brightly at the 2019 COWES WEEK, scoring four bullets in six races to win Class IRC 0, winning the prestigious Brittania Cup and New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup in two of those races.

The Grand Prix 42 parameters have been grand-fathered into the FAST 40+ “box rule,” although built in 2007 42 South is still holding off many of the newer 40-foot designs. Owner-Driver Mark Rijkse commented on his experience with the design, explaining that, “Two sail reaching she felt untouchable with an outboard lead. Downwind also one of the quickest in the fleet.”

Reichel/Pugh sends warm congratulations to the entire 42° South team.

Event Website
2019 Cowes Week IRC Class 0 Results

The UK’s Cowes Week is one of the longest-running regular regattas in the world, having first taken place in 1826, and this year with upwards of 1,000 yachts and 8,000 competitors in 31 classes. A key reason teams that notch class wins at Cowes Week are always very proud of their achievement – and put in a huge effort in advance – is that the racing tests every aspect of sailing skills. These include navigation, boat speed on every point of sail and the widest possible range of start-line scenarios.

The New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup was presented by the New York Yacht Club in 1951 on 100th Anniversary of America’s victory which led to the commencement of the America’s Cup.

In 1950, Sir Peter Scott suggested to King George VI that larger yachts should compete for a new trophy as it was felt that the America’s Cup could not be restarted after the war. It was time for another competition of international significance to be introduced. King George was in favor and presented a trophy to the Royal Yachting Association, naming it The Britannia Cup.

Photos courtesy of Paul Wyeth and Shaun Roster