PRESS RELEASE - 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.”
