Sunbeams sail towards their centenary - can you help celebrations?

Back in 2005, Sunbeam owner of V1, Dainty, Peter Nicholson published the stunning book The Brilliance of Sunbeams with a comprehensive boat index as an appendix. This gave a potted history of this handsome, historic fleet.

In advance of the Sunbeam’s centenary, the class association is asking anyone who has owned a Sunbeam, past and present, to update their history in order to update the story of this popular and enduring keel-boat.

The class association is looking for images past and present, anecdotes, stories, restorations, regatta wins as well as details of the current owners.

For further information and details of how to access this new ‘boatology’, please contact Simon O’Hea at [email protected]

In normal times, the 97-year-old Solent Sunbeam keelboat fleet, based at Itchenor Sailing Club, offer competitive and extremely sociable racing throughout the season including weekend regattas, relaxed Thursday evening harbour racing as well as week-long racing events.

More than 30 Solent Sunbeams regularly sail from Itchenor ranging from 97 years in age to brand new, low-maintenance GRP yachts.

The class is extremely welcoming and sociable with very supportive owners who have a common passion for the design, heritage and sportsmanship of the 1922-23 Westmacott designed classic keelboat.

The class has been a stalwart of Cowes Week for many years.

If you are interested in owning a piece of yachting heritage that also has a very active racing fleet, then the class has a number of boats available for sale or part ownership, with more details available on the Solent Sunbeam website. www.solentsunbeam.co.uk