The 2025 Lord Birkett Trophy held a majestic spectacle from the deck of an International 14 yacht. On the crystalline waters of Ullswater, home to legendary wind shifts and stunning scenery, half a dozen International 14s took part in this thrilling journey. Among these elegant maritime marvels was the freshly refurbished ‘Zog’. Emerging from an intensive period of restoration and varnishing, Zog beamed with a bold shade of orange, stealing the limelight at the event with its festive hues.
Described as a work of art reminiscent of a traffic cone, it was a sight to behold on the water, earning the nickname from the fleet as ‘Captain Tanny Danny’s masterpiece. It evoked a visual of a floating sunburn gleaming under the sun, turning heads around.
With a notable variety of smaller and sometimes older vessels, the upcoming Rolex Fastnet Race presents an exciting arena for the IRC Three class. Its propensity for fierce competition has even crowned the overall winner in two of its last six renditions. This year promises to be no exception, rousing great anticipation among sailing enthusiasts worldwide.
In an awe-inspiring display of diversity, this edition will feature an impressive 93 boats across 29 different yacht designs. Participants range from small offshore raceboats, including Dehler 30 and Sun Fast 30 models, to larger vessels like the 50ft cutter Gemervescence and the vintage Nicholson 55, Quailo III.