Having heard that the 1928 Nicholson 23-Metre, ‘Astra’, under new ownership, left her long time berth in La Spezia for Greece last year, thoughts came flooding in about the exciting prospect of a 23 Metre Rendez-Vous in 2013.
The possible venue: the island of Spetses. Easily accessed by way of the Corinth Canal and a perfect location for those looking for a holiday cruise. Spetses is about to hold their third annual Classic Yacht Race that is planned for the 13th – 16th June and if the last two year’s reports are anything to go by then it will be another fantastic affair. Sister-ship ‘Candida’ has participated in the last two events and sources indicate that they are likely to sign up again. The third and final surviving 23-Metre is the beautiful Fife design, ‘Cambria’, based in Cannes. Over the last few years she has been spending early Summer cruising in the Eastern Mediterranean. Could she also be persuaded to attend?
Furthermore, the most original surviving ‘J’ Class yacht, and Sir Thomas Lipton’s final America’s Cup challenge, ‘Shamrock V’, has also expressed some interest and would plan on sailing with her 3 headsail rig, as she often does when racing against ‘Cambria’ in the Mediterranean classic regatta circuit.
If indeed this happens it is likely to be the first time since the early 1930’s that all 23 Metre yachts are seen racing together, and with the 1930 Shamrock V also present the event would easily rival the show put on by the ‘J’ Class at Falmouth and Cowes in 2012.
