J CLASS REGATTA

- BUILDING TOWARDS A SPECTACULAR EVENT

28/01/11

The Royal Southampton Yacht Club and the J Class Association are pleased to announce details of the Regatta Programme planned for July 2012. With five J Class yachts racing, this is expected to be an outstanding regatta, both for the competitors and spectators.

David Pitman, Secretary of the J Class Association, explained: “The Royal Southampton Yacht Club (RSYC) was selected because of the Club’s deep experience of organising and running major racing regattas, it’s great onshore facilities and close historic ties to the J Class fleet. We are delighted RSYC is hosting the 2012 Solent Regatta and are looking forward to spectacular, close racing.”

A three-day competitive round the cans race Series is planned in and around the Solent on 18-20 July 2012, which can be viewed from the many vantage points along the shore and on the water. This Series will culminate with a prizegiving at the RSYC Clubhouse in Ocean Village, Southampton on Friday 20 July.

On Saturday 21 July, the fleet will assemble in the central Solent, again under the flag of the RSYC for the start of the Hundred Guinea Cup - a race around the Isle of Wight over the original course of the America’s Cup in 1851. Clockwise and without a time limit, this time it will include the Nab Tower!

Sue Lamb, Commodore, Royal Southampton Yacht Club, said: “With strong tides and complex navigational decisions, the 2012 Solent Regatta will be a great challenge to the Captains and crews. RSYC is looking forward to running the racing for the largest J Class fleet ever seen on their ‘home waters’ of the Solent and planning is already well under way. We also look forward to welcoming everyone at our Ocean Village Clubhouse – which will boast a fully-staffed media centre – and at our Gins Clubhouse on the Beaulieu River.”

Finding suitable deep-water berthing and appropriate shoreside facilities for such a large fleet is often a challenge. Ocean Village, has been selected as it is ideal and importantly, can berth all the fleet together. For spectators, the yachts can be viewed from the seaward side, together with their many beautiful support vessels.