Welcome to the Jersey Regatta ... et soyez bienvenus à nos amis français!

With three months to go, the organising team is busy putting the finishing touches to preparations for what we anticipate will be another great combined clubs’ Regatta, sponsored for the third year running by leading investment management company Brewin Dolphin.

Each year brings something new and this year has really produced some exciting developments. In particular, I am delighted to report that the International Melges 24 UK National Championships will run concurrently with the Regatta. The boats that raced in Class 0 last year provided their fair share of excitement and we are very much looking forward to seeing this highly competitive class back again.

On the sport-catamaran front, recent acquisitions have seen rapid growth in the Island’s Formula 18 fleet with eight Hobie Tigers racing in the recent Connex Spring Regatta. This has given birth to an additional class (pity the poor race officer!) that will be racing as Class 9 in September, seriously challenged, for sure, by visitors from Guernsey, the UK and France.

We are also looking forward to the participation of a Britannia Events First 40.7, chartered by the Toe-in-the-Water charity and crewed by injured servicemen and women, many of whom have been wounded whilst on active service in Afghanistan and Iraq and who are currently being treated at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. We are all most grateful to Brewin Dolphin for extending their sponsorship to cover the cost of this charter.

We are receiving enquiries from many other prospective visiting competitors and look forward to these becoming firm entrants. With the Jersey racing season currently in full swing, local sailors are busily honing their skills and visitors can expect to face stiff competition albeit tempered with much fun and relaxation ashore.

The Notices of Race for both the Regatta and the Melges 24 Championships are available by clicking on the appropriate button in the menu to the right. Please note, in particular, that there is a discount for boats entering by 25th August and that complimentary berthing is, once again, being generously provided by Jersey Marinas.

Visiting sailors should note that early September is a very busy time in Jersey’s social programme. For those wishing to book hotel or guest house accommodation the watchwords must be ‘book early’. You will find Jersey Tourism a great source of information and assistance in this respect.

For our part, Helen, the Regatta Secretary, (tel. 00 44 (0) 1534 732229, e-mail shyc@localdial.com) will be very happy to send prospective visitors any further information they may need to help ensure a rewarding and successful stay!

Fair winds

Bill Harris
Chairman
(billharris@jerseymail.co.uk)

28th May 2010