WELCOME TO PLYMOUTH RACE WEEK 2011 - THE YACHTSMAN'S REGATTA

The Round Britain and Ireland, the Rolex Fastnet and OSTAR and IRC SW Championships are just some of the prestigious sailing events that the Royal Western Yacht Club is proud to host. It’s this experience and heritage for first class race management that makes the RWYC’s new biennial event, Plymouth Race Week, so exciting. Billed as ‘the yachtsman’s regatta’, the four day sailing event is set to emerge as the South West’s most competitive sailing event, attracting amateur and professional sailors from across the UK.

For competitors, sailing out of Plymouth will be hard to beat. The more sheltered conditions of the Sound give way to open sea and minimal tidal influences around the waters of Plymouth create the perfect conditions for close, competitive racing. International Race Officer, Mike Pearson, will head up Plymouth Race Week’s race management team, setting challenging courses both inside and outside of Plymouth Breakwater. By including a white sail class, PRW11 also welcomes sailors that have less regatta experience, but would still like the opportunity to race in a first class regatta.

Timed to coincide with Plymouth Summer Festival, a full calendar of dazzling events will ensure that the shore side entertainment is every bit as spectacular as the sailing. The Red Arrows display team, fireworks night, Naval displays and a dedicated race village are just some of the attractions planned. Crew facilities are first class with competitors berthing in Sutton Harbour, Queen Anne’s Battery and Plymouth Yacht Haven marinas - right at the heart of the on shore action.

Our full racing and events programme and on-line entry form will be launched in September 2010. In the meantime, please register your interest if you’d like to get latest news and information as it happens.

PRESS RELEASE - Pete Goss and 'Help for Heroes' back Plymouth Race Week 2011

8TH APRIL 2010

Since it’s launch in September of last year, plans for The Royal Western Yacht Club’s Plymouth Race Week 2011 continue to move forward at an impressive pace. They include the support of local sailing hero Pete Goss and the full backing of the national charity ‘Help for Heros’ added to which, Plymouth City Council have pledged their full support as a partner.

The new bi-annual sailing event, which plans to be on the scale of Cowes and Cork week, utilising the City’s unrivalled waterfront and fabulous sailing waters, will be centered round the historic Barbican area of Plymouth. The competing yachts will be berthed in Sutton Harbour, thanks to the support of Sutton Harbour Group, with the tented race village no more then a couple of hundred yards away on the adjoining Commercial Wharf overlooking Queen Anne’s Battery.

In between, and on the way after a hard days racing, are The Barbican’s shops, restaurants and watering holes, which not only provide fabulous après sail, but also enhance a family friendly atmosphere. With the full support of Plymouth’s newly formed Department of Development & Regeneration, the smooth set up and running of the race village is assured.

Chris Arscott, the RWYC’s Commodore, said: “It’s great to have all the main organisations in Plymouth on board, with their support I am ever growing in confidence that this really is going to be a really top class event. It’s also a privilege to be joining up with Help for Heroes as our nominated charity and partner.”

Help for Heroes is the national tri-service charity which support the long term care and support of wounded servicemen and women. It is particularly fitting that they should be attaching them selves to the Plymouth Race Week 2011 given the city’s relationship with the services.

David Gammell, the south west representative for the charity, said: “We are delighted that the RWYC approached Help 4 Heroes to be their nominated charity at the regatta. We work closely with the major service charities one of which, Toe in the Water, gets the seriously injured out on the water. With both our, and the city’s, close connection with so many military bases in and around the city, it’s doubly fitting that we have a presence at the regatta.”

David Draffan, Head of Development and Regeneration, said: “Plymouth City Council is delighted to support Plymouth Race Week 2011. We are confident that the city can bring together all our partners to deliver an outstanding event that will attract large numbers of spectators to Plymouth. Plymouth is a city with a unique maritime history and has successfully hosted many international maritime events in recent years which form an important element of our events calendar. The Economic Development Department at Plymouth City Council will be working with the Royal Western Yacht Club as part of Plymouth Race Week 2011’s Organising Committee, ensuring that we deliver added value events that will encourage visitors to the city.”

With these corner stones in place the foundations for the new Regatta are set, and the Royal Western YC is concentrating it’s expertise on the all important sailing side of the weeks activities. The race committee, lead by international race officer Mike Pearson, are in no doubt the courses will be second to none with racing both in and outside the breakwater and, some classes have already expressed interest in attending even before being approached.

The overwhelming interest has extended to the westcountry’s sailing celebrity Pete Goss, who is lending his support. Pete said: “With the imminent arrival of my small, but trustworthy Mounts Bay Lugger, ‘Spirit of Mystery’, due to return to the Westcountry soon, I can’t help but be reminded of all the other extraordinary events that have emanated from these shores.

The maritime history of the southwest coast dates back as far as Drake and beyond to the modern day which, was started by Blondie Hasler and Sir Francis Chichester when they instigated the Single Handed Transat Race, the event spawned all modern day short handed ocean racing. And, the club they dreamed up their idea in, The Royal Western Yacht Club, has yet again had the initiative to bring another major sailing event to Plymouth.

With their past record for organising prestigious races and regattas, I have no doubt that ‘Plymouth Race Week 2011’ will offer well run competitive racing. Sailed in some of the best and most accommodating waters that the UK has to offer and complimented by Plymouth’s unrivaled waterfront, this has the potential to be exactly as described - The Yachtsman’s Regatta.”

More updates and news to follow shortly, but anyone wishing to learn more and keep up to date with the latest developments can follow the progress on the newly launched Plymouth Race Week website www.plymouthraceweek.org

PRESS RELEASE - NEW REGATTA FOR PLYMOUTH

24TH SEPTEMBER 2009

Plymouth’s Royal Western Yacht Club have committed to stage a new regatta, Plymouth Race Week, planned to be on the same scale as Cowes or Cork week. As one of the UK’s premiere yacht clubs, The RWYC, with a wealth of experience and history in organising major sailing events has the added bonus of having the stunning natural arena of Plymouth Sound and the waters beyond at their disposal.

Over the years Plymouth has established itself as the home for some of the most notable ocean races including The Transat, OSTAR, The Two-handed Round Britain race and has always been the finish port for the Fastnet. However, it has never played host to a major regatta and it was with that thought in mind that the Royal Western’s Commodore, Chris Arscott, launched the ambitious plan and set the date for 7th – 10th July 2011.

Chris Arscott, said: "I campaign my own boat at Cowes, Cork Week and recently at the newly established Dun Laoghaire regatta. I’ve watched the latter growing, relatively quickly, into a really first class regatta. Here in Plymouth we have all the facilities to offer the same quality event in a top class sailing destination. It seemed a natural progression to hold an event on this scale. This will be a fantastic opportunity and will put Plymouth firmly on the map of International yachting events. It will be a great boost to maritime businesses in the area, and to the local economy as a whole."

The race management team for the bi-annual event are already in place to oversee at least three separate courses, both inside and outside the Breakwater. Led by the renowned race officer Mike Pearson, the smooth running of some excellent racing is guaranteed. Added to that, in recent years, the city has committed to utilise the historic Sutton Harbour for the afore mentioned events, bringing sailors and sailing into the heart of Plymouth, with much success.

Continuing that theme, a tented ‘race village’ overlooking Queen Anne’s Battery Marina and adjoining the Barbican’s shops restaurants and watering holes, will not only provide fabulous après sail, but also enhance a family friendly atmosphere. With fairs, fireworks, a jazz festival and the Red Arrows, just some of the activities already scheduled, this is going to be an unadulterated yachting extravaganza.

Supported by Sutton Harbour Group, Plymouth City Council and The Cattewater Harbour Commission the event has already generated serious interest from the many yacht classes who have been approached, including Sigma and Beneteau. Some heavyweight sponsors have also shown their intent to support what is expected to be a 400 plus boat regatta in the height of the summer season.

With the best weather, in the best waters, Plymouth Race Week is a must for every yachtsman’s diary.