<?xml version="1.0"?> <img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Southampton_Town_Quay_Classic_Cowes.jpg"><h2>Southampton-Town-Quay-Classic-Cowes.jpg</h2>MBM's deputy editor, Sally Coffey, (far right) joins members of the Classic Powerboat Rally at Southampton Town Quay before heading over to Cowes to join in the festivities.<br><br>The annual event, which is held each year to coinicide with the <strong>Cowes-Torquay race</strong>, is an excuse to get classic boats and those with "provenance" out on the water.<img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/MBMs_deputy_editor_on_board_Swordsman_40.jpg"><h2>MBM's deputy editor on board Swordsman 40.jpg</h2>Sally tries hard to keep her compusure before her skipper for the day pushes the throttles forward.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/MBMs_deputy_editor_on_Swordsman_40.jpg"><h2>MBM's-deputy-editor-on-Swordsman-40.jpg</h2>Hold on tight, Sally, it's going to get a lot faster.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Blue_Corsair.jpg"><h2>Blue-Corsair.jpg</h2>Our cruise in company boat for the leg was Levi Corsair <em>Blue Corsair</em>.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Blue_Corsair_in_the_splash.jpg"><h2>Blue-Corsair-in-the-splash.jpg</h2>Blue Corsair in the splash in the Solent.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Crewing_Classic_Cowes.jpg"><h2>Crewing-Classic-Cowes.jpg</h2>Huw's wife Julie is well rehearsed in crewing.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Huw_Prothero_Swordsman_40.jpg"><h2>Huw-Prothero-Swordsman-40.jpg</h2>Our skipper for the day Huw Prothero glides past the <em>Queen Elizabeth</em>.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Cruising_alongside_Blue_Corsair.jpg"><h2>Cruising-alongside-Blue-Corsair.jpg</h2>The Swordsman 40 that was our stead for the day,<em> Pro re nata</em>, with <em>Blue Corsair</em> alongside.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Happy_helmsman.jpg"><h2>Happy-helmsman.jpg</h2>Huw is the epitome of a happy helmsman.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Spearfish_MkIII.jpg"><h2>Spearfish-MkIII.jpg</h2>A Spearfish MkIII was just one of the classic boats taking part in the rally.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Thunderbolt_classic_cowes.jpg"><h2>Thunderbolt-classic-cowes.jpg</h2>A familiar sight to some, the winner of the first Cowes-Torquay race, Christina 25, <em>Thunderbolt</em>, was there too.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Mike_Jones_Thunderbolt.jpg"><h2>Mike-Jones-Thunderbolt.jpg</h2>Owner Mike James always dreamed of owning a Christina.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/life_on_board_a_Riva.jpg"><h2>life-on-board-a-Riva.jpg</h2>This Riva 2000 was fitted with no fewer than three engines.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Bubbles_in_the_cockpit.jpg"><h2>Bubbles-in-the-cockpit.jpg</h2>This is the life. We were pleased to see that crewmembers had come suitably equipped.<br><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Christina_at_Classic_Cowes.jpg"><h2>Christina-at-Classic-Cowes.jpg</h2>Owner Andrew Cooper proudly stands aboard his Christina 25 <em>La Garoupe III</em>.<img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2013/10/Classic_collection.jpg"><h2>Classic collection at Cowes Yacht Haven</h2>There was an impressive collection of classic boats on show in Cowes Yacht Haven.<br>
