Great seafaring city of Portsmouth once more has its own regatta

Portsmouth Regatta 2014 © Dave White

The Portsmouth Regatta. It has not been hosted by the city for many years, since 1908, which is an anomaly that has now been re-dressed. The revival of this historic and prestigious event has been inspired by the occurrence this year of the 150th anniversary of the Royal Albert Yacht Club. It was founded in 1854 in honour of Prince Albert who took a great interest in Portsmouth and in that year the club organised a regatta the major prize being the magnificent Royal Albert Cup.

This Regatta was reborn over the weekend of June 28/29, being organised by the Portsmouth Sailing Club in conjunction with the RAYC and Victory Class whose 80th anniversary it is also this year. Sailing clubs from all around the Solent were very supportive and it was most heartening to see these fleets gathering in the Eastern Solent in an area favoured by Sir Ben Ainslie to trial his America' Cup yachts. Victory, XOD, Seaview Mermaid, Bembridge One Design and Bembridge Redwing classes joined the IRC Rated yachts and NHC Club cruisers.

The racing took place on boat friendly courses in the eastern Solent-Day boats off the South Parade Pier/Southsea Castle and the cruisers further out East of the submarine barrier. Sailing is not normally a spectator sport but this was an exception and crowds lining the beaches enjoyed a colourful and exciting spectacle. The competitors were unanimous in their praises for the courses set by the well-known Bill Oakley, Peter Bateson and Ricky Hodgson, which while challenging tested the abilities of the crews and provided exciting and enjoyable racing. Around 30 Day boats competed each day in series of seven races over the weekend and twenty IRC/cruisers each day. On the 28th the IRC Solent Championship race and on the 29th NHC/Club cruisers.

The worthy winners and runners up were presented with their prizes at prizegivings held at The Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club in Portsmouth and the Haslar lightship, where they received engraved lead crystal whisky tumblers which were no doubt soon filled. On Saturday June 28th on the Haslar Lightship John Yates of Rolly Tasker Sails presented prizes to the IRC winners of the day. In the evening at the RNC&RAYC Nigel Gordon-Rae of the Queens Hotel Southsea also presented prizes to the XOD day winners and Victory Class. Sunday June 29th over 80 competitors and support crew attended with Peter Cordrey of Calverton Finance presenting the prize to the overall Day boat class winner and again John Yates of Rolly Tasker Sails the NHC Club Class.

On Saturday evening after a hard day's racing, competitors friends and guests repaired to the RNC&RAYC in Portsmouth for a BBQ and Jazz music where a good time was had by all.

The Sailing Committee was delighted with the success of the Regatta and wish to give a special thanks to our sponsors who supported an unknown brand & believed in it's potential as a significant event in the Solent Sailing Calendar. Many thanks to the Queens Hotel Southsea, Rolly Tasker Sails, Spinlock, Calverton Finance, Digi Print FX and RS Divers. Also not forgetting the team of 30 people from the clubs to make this Regatta an enormous success.

See you all next year 4/5th July.

Overall Results:

IRC 1/2 Combined:
1st Excitable Peter Hodgkinson
2nd Zero 2 James Gair
3rd No Retreat David Riley

IRC 3/4 Combined:
1st Crakajax Richard Hollis
2nd Crazy Horse Derek Budden
3rd Tinker T Kit Buck

NHC/Club Class:
1st Journey Maker Chris Jones/Louise Makin
2nd Merlin Russle Peace
3rd Crazy Horse Derek Budden

XOD:
1st Lass John Tremlett
2nd Princess Jalina David Palmer
3rd Judy Bill Mallam

Victory Class:
1st Z50 Zara Clive Cokayne and Mark "Munch" Briggs
2nd Z74 Peregerine Duncan & Carol Evans & Tom Hartridge
3rd Z49 Shearwater Russel Mead

www.portsmouthregatta.org