The Fiftieth ‘Dainty Dish’ – 4 July 2021

The Fiftieth ‘Dainty Dish’ – 4 July 2021

Prior to the start of the race for the ‘Dainty Dish’ on the 4th July 2021, the owner of the first Sunbeam V1 Dainty, Peter Nicholson, was presented with a glass bowl to commemorate the fiftieth running of the annual passage race from Itchenor to Cowes which started in...

Launch of new Solent Sunbeam – 16th June 2021

Launch of new Solent Sunbeam – 16th June 2021

The 98 year-old Solent Sunbeam Class is delighted to announce the launch of the latest new Sunbeam V71 Tiffany on Wednesday the 16th June. Tiffany is the second new boat to be launched in 2021 and she joins the ever-growing, Solent Sunbeam Class which are based at...

Itchenor Keelboat Week – June 2021

Itchenor Keelboat Week – June 2021

The Sunbeam fleet raced in champagne sailing conditions on Day 1 of keelboat week. The fleet started in 10 knots of a strengthening south west sea breeze which touched 15 knots at times. Race officer David McGregor set a start line between Chalkdock and Baker and the...

Chittagong Weekend Series

Chittagong Weekend Series

The Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May saw 22 Solent Sunbeams competing in challenging sailing conditions for one of its seasons highlights, the Chittagong Cup, with 4 races held over 2 days. The winds were generally very light and there were at times huge shifts...

Chisholm Weekend Series

Chisholm Weekend Series

Twenty-two Solent Sunbeams enjoyed challenging light wind conditions throughout their first weekend racing series of the year on the 1-2 May. At stake was the Chisholm Weekend Trophy, which was presented to the Class in memory of Sir Henry Chisholm who rejuvenated the...

Launch of V72 – ‘Serendipity’

Launch of V72 – ‘Serendipity’

  The Solent Sunbeam Class is excited to announce the latest addition to the fleet with the launch of V72, 'Serendipity' at Itchenor on the 30th March. The latest addition to this 98 year old classic keelboat class is the eleventh GRP Solent Sunbeam to be...

Michael J Williamson 1933- 2020

Michael J Williamson 1933- 2020

We were very saddened to hear that Mike Williamson died on Tuesday 3rd November. Peter Nicholson and Richard Dale have kindly given us their memories of Mike’s time as a Sunbeam owner, sailor and friend.   Mike owned and successfully raced Sunbeam V14 Santa Baby for...

Solent Sunbeams; surviving and thriving despite Covid-19

Solent Sunbeams; surviving and thriving despite Covid-19

The historic Solent Sunbeam fleet, which boasts 97-year-old wooden keelboats through to brand-new GRP hulls, has experienced one of its best sailing seasons despite the shadow of Covid-19 and a late start to the season. The fleet has enjoyed some of its largest ever...

Itchenor Keelboat Week September 2020 – race report

Itchenor Keelboat Week September 2020 – race report

Itchenor Keelboat Week - Day 1 Not for the first time this year the wind forecast was spot on with Windguru indicating a maximum of 7 knots for the first day of Itchenor Keelboat Week. Unfortunately, that occurred shortly after the start and the wind generally abated...

Race Report: Chisholm Trophy, August 2020

Race Report: Chisholm Trophy, August 2020

Day 1 Report Tuesday morning greeted an eager Sunbeam fleet with a cloudy sky and a hint of rain to come. Undeterred, 15 Sunbeams made their way to the start line just south of the Chalkdock bend with Betivuka stationed on the west side of the channel. The Swallows,...