Brewers swap ale for port

Related tags Portsmouth Npower

The nation's family brewers are a pretty competitive lot, but never more so than when it comes to their annual regatta at Cowes. Bragging rights for...

The nation's family brewers are a pretty competitive lot, but never more so than when it comes to their annual regatta at Cowes.

Bragging rights for the year are up for grabs and passions are known to run high as the skippers urge their crews on.

So honour, and a favourable mention in Snifter, were at stake on the Solent last weekend as 13 yachts battled it out.

Last year's inter-brewery regatta was sailed in horrendous conditions, and this year's were little better.

Friday's practice day was wild, with wind speeds up to 40 knots. Two crew members were swept overboard from the Microdat and St Austell boats, and on the Sheps boat a hand was knocked unconscious by a spinnaker pole.

However, this did not deter any of the crews from managing to get their noses out of Portsmouth harbour for a shakedown.

Excellent beer that evening steadied some shaky hands, in particular the team that managed to hoist a spinnaker and yet also keep the mast on the boat.

Saturday's race day was less windy than Friday's and, unlike 2006, all races were run.

It was an eventful day, too, and a first in terms of men falling overboard. In both cases those swimming for the finish line were safely and quickly rescued by their teams.

Here's how the teams finished

1 Young's

captain Torquil Sligo-Young

2 Shepherd Neame

captain David Townsend

3= Black Sheep Brewery

captain Richard Clarke

3= Greene King

captain Neil Coltman

5 Brilliant Beer Company

captain Philip Worsley

6= Rexam