Well known names are ready for Race Week
5TH JUNE 2011
Barratt Homes Plymouth Race Week, this year’s big new regatta for the south coast, has caught the imagination of some well know skippers who’ve wasted no time in entering what is billed as ‘The Yachtsman’s Regatta’. And, with entry levels rising faster than could have been hoped for, is looking set to be just that.
Having recently moved back to the Plymouth area, Nick & Annie Haigh, owners of the DK 46 ‘Dark & Steamy’ are delighted to be sailing in Plymouth Race Week. Nick said: “We have been fortunate enough to sail in many locations throughout the world but Plymouth and the South West really takes some beating. We feel the week is a great initiative that will be good for the city, spectators and sailors, plus the format can be built on in the future. We’re ready and keen to race against many local yachts as well as those who will be traveling to the event. There’s a great mix of challenging conditions within the Sound and the opportunity to go well outside the breakwater, where you can experience superb surfing waves which makes this a stunning sailing location.”
A sentiment shared by the America’s Cup Event Authority who recently announced Plymouth as a the venue for one of the first three America’s Cup World Series events to be staged in September this year. Andy Williams, who enjoyed a successful Easter regatta in Cowes with his Prima 38 Max ’Ed Out, will lift the stakes in the South West Areas IRC Championship which takes place at the regatta, as will John McLaren on board his Kerr 39, ‘Maridadi’.
Tying in nicely with the regatta’s nominated charity Help for Heroes, Toe in the Water have entered a J109 and three J80’s adding to the numbers in ‘Open Mixed Sports Boat Handicap Championship’, the first of it’s kind to be staged in the UK. MOCRA have a large presence for their National Championships along with the SB3’s who are staging their South West Championships.
Strong entries from many other classes will be make competition over the four courses exhilarating for all skippers and crew. There’s still plenty of time to enter before the 29th June late entry cut off date so don’t delay as the ‘après sail’ will not disappoint either. Centered round the historic Barbican area of Plymouth, where the competing yachts will be berthed in, and close to, Sutton Harbour, the waterfront tented race village will be home to three nights of excellent live music and a charity auction on behalf of ‘Help for Heroes’, amongst many other amusements.
Major New Regatta for the South West
24TH FEBRUARY 2011
Since committing to stage Plymouth Race Week just over a year ago this regatta, like so many notable events spawned inside the walls of the Royal Western Yacht Club, is fast taking shape. With commitment already from numerous classes and individuals to take part and, with Barratt Homes, who over the past ten years have been stalwart supporters of sailing championships in Plymouth, coming on board as the Title sponsor, Barratt Homes Plymouth Race Week 2011, 7th – 10th July, is guaranteed a top slot in next years sailing calendar.
The new bi-annual sailing event, planned 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, and close to, Sutton Harbour with a tented race village incorporating entertainment and shops no more then a couple of hundred yards away on the adjoining Commercial Wharf overlooking Queen Anne’s Battery.
International Race Officer, Mike Pearson, who is heading up the regatta's team of international and national race officials will ensure competitive racing for each individual Class on three challenging courses. One inside and two outside of Plymouth Breakwater, plus another for the all important White Sail fleet.
Billed as 'The Yachtsman’s Regatta', the White Sail Fleet is an integral aspect of the event. The organisers are very keen to encourage sailors who don’t normally race but who would like to take part, possibly with their family, racing on less demanding courses without the need to raise a spinnaker to compete on a level playing field.
The RWYC have also recently announced they will take another lead by incorporating the UK's first Open Mixed Sports Boat Handicap Championship into their new regatta. Recent years have seen a vast increase amongst many racing enthusiasts to down size and get their racing kicks via more economic means. Not surprising with the tough economic climate we are all experiencing and this has been reflected over the last few years where conventional yacht racing has been in slight decline at all major regattas.
Commodore of the RWYC, Chris Arscott, commented: “The growing interest in smaller trailable, slip launchable, lifting keel sports boats needed to be given due consideration and this is an exciting step forward for the regatta. It's so often the case that skippers are watching the entry numbers for their class before taking the plunge but, with a mixed sports boat class they will be guaranteed an exciting start and challenging racing regardless of individual class entries.”
The regatta's nominated charity is Help for Heroes, the national tri-service charity which looks to provide for the long term care and support for the wounded. It is particularly fitting that they should be attaching them selves to the Barratt Homes Plymouth Race Week 2011 given the city's relationship with the services.
As Pete Goss, who is lending his support to the event, commented: “With their past record for organising prestigious races and regattas, I have no doubt that 'Barratt Homes 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.”
