Malcolm Hollis takes the cup

The construction industry took to the sea last week, with over 2,500 people heading to Cowes in the Isle of Wight for three days of high-speed yacht racing and hard, er, networking.

PFI player Amey emerged as joint overall victor of the Little Britain Challenge Cup alongside property developer Languard Investments. The competition was dogged by lack of wind, which meant Friday’s racing was abandoned. But on Saturday from noon conditions improved just enough for a number of shorter races to get underway in a wind bracket of 3-5 knots.

In the two surveyors’ races, smaller firm Malcolm Hollis (right) beat heavyweights Gardiner & Theobald (second) and Colliers CRE (third) to the top spot in the racing class competition, while GVA Grimley won the cruising class race.

Liz Russell, head of marketing at Malcolm Hollis, said: “It was great to win. I think we did it because we had a tactical understanding of how to use the tides and winds in the Solent. The light winds were a particular challenge, as our boat responds better to stronger winds.”

Malcom Hollis won a rose bowl, which Russell said would take pride of place next to the firm’s other racing trophies, which include one for coming third in Cowes Week this year.

The regatta attracted 42 new entrants this year, making it 238 entrants in total and the largest European industry sailing festival, according to the event’s organisers.

It raised £150,000 for charity. The main beneficiaries will be the Ellen MacArthur Trust, the Cirdan and Jubilee Sailing Trusts, the Andrew Cassell foundation and the John Merricks Sailing Trust.