This year marked one hundred years of racing XODs. From the humble beginnings of 7 boats racing together off Netley in Southampton Water in 1911, the class has grown from strength to strength. This was demonstrated emphatically as 145 Xs entered for Cowes Week 2011. This was by far the largest single class ever seen at Cowes. It was crews from Itchenor Sailing Club that dominated the event. Of the 30 boats that entered from Itchenor last year's winners Steve and Peter Lawrence with Paddy Smart in Catherine won the first race on Saturday. Sunday's race was abandoned because of very strong winds and it was on Monday that competition for the prestigious Captain's Cup continued. Monday saw brisk winds too but a race was possible in the relative shelter of the Isle of Wight in Osborne Bay. Another Itchenor crew – Andrew Shaw with Chris Froy and Alan Roberts in Chris's Phoenix - was triumphant. Tuesday's light wind race saw several Itchenor boats dominate the front of the fleet for much of the race, Lass, Chartreuse and Thora were all seen to be in the top 3 or 4. However, it was David Humphrey helming Perdix with crew members Johnny Shaw and Julia Plumstead who came through on the final leg to snatch 1st place.

Wednesday saw the return of the stronger winds that were to be the norm for the rest of the week. Phoenix returned to top spot in both Wednesday and Thursday races. The latter race was started by HRH Princess Anne from the Royal Yacht Squadron to commemorate the Centenary of XOD racing. The races on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were a "regatta within a regatta" with the newly commission Centenary Trophy being the main prize. The clear winner of this trophy was Phoenix.

Friday's race presented the opportunity for the Phoenix Team to clinch the Captain's Cup. The fleet created a fantastic spectacle for the crowds at Cowes as they ran close in to the shore to the Squadron line finish to avoid the strong ebb tide. A number of boats hit the rocks as they tried to gain advantage. Most of the contenders for the Captain's Cup failed to make an impression on Andy Shaw's lead and therefore his conservative 13th place was sufficient for him and his crew in Phoenix to win the Cup with a day of the regatta to spare. Andy is the youngest skipper to win the event since his own father Alastair some 40 years ago. It almost goes without saying that Andy also won the under-25 trophy. The strength of the whole team of Itchenor X sailors was rewarded as they regained the interdivisional Phillipson Shield beating off particularly strong challenges from Lymington and Yarmouth divisions.

It was also very fitting that the Ladies Day Trophy at Cowes this year was awarded to Tina Scott. Tina herself a very successful XOD sailor is Secretary of the Class and an Itchenor Sailing Club member

ITCHENOR XOD's CELEBRATE

A full five days of racing for the Itchenor XODs marked their contribution to the celebrations along the South Coast to mark the date one hundred years ago when Xs first raced in Southampton Water.

It became clear from the outset that Xcitation helmed by John Tremlett would be the boat to beat. Xcitation's beautiful restoration was started by Frank Powell and completed after his death by Haines Boatyard for her re-launch this year. Tremlett took the first three races in the week as a number of other top Itchenor crews took turns to challenge – on Monday it was Mark Palmer in Sweet X and Damion Ash sailing Wenda. Ted Roose in Thora took up the challenge on Tuesday, with Wednesday's chasers being Ron Parker and Alan Perry in Falconet and Richard Jordan and Richard Bullock sailing Lass.

On Thursday the weather gods delivered sparkling summer conditions with a gentle sea breeze giving the fleet a change from the brisk northerlies of earlier in the week. Colin McKinnon sailing Chartreuse that took the main prize but Xcitation's second place was good enough to secure victory in the week's series for the coveted Benson Platter.

As an addition to the week's series a special race was added on Thursday afternoon to mark the Centenary. Xcitation returned to the top spot out of 27 boats to clinch the newly gifted West Wind Trophy. No good celebration would be complete without a party and over 200 Itchenor members and guests dined and danced until the early hours.

The brisk northerly air steam returned on Friday to blow away the cobwebs. It was Alastair Shaw in Phoenix accompanied by Captain's Cup winners Steve and Peter Lawrence who took line honours with that man Tremlett in second place and Peter Taylor's crew in Felix putting their best result of the week in third spot.

The focus of the XOD Centenary Celebration now moves to Cowes Week in August when over 20 Itchenor boats will join more than 100 XODs for another week of racing.