2017 J80 World Championships awarded to Royal Southern Yacht Club
by Peta Stuart-Hunt 19 Dec 2014 20:16 GMT
19 December 2014
J80 racing at the Royal Southern Yacht Club © Phil Riley
The International J/80 Class Association has awarded the 2017 J/80 World Championships to the Royal Southern Yacht Club, based on the River Hamble. This will follow on from the UK National Championships that the Club is also hosting in 2015.
The Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSrnYC) has an active J/80 fleet and attracts many more of the class to its summer series of regattas run annually from May through to September, in addition to match racing J/80s in the annual Grade 2 Match Cup.
In addition, the Club is currently constructing the Prince Philip Yacht Haven, providing walk-ashore berthing for 60+ boats, and creating the ideal base for hosting major events. These new facilities, complete with dry berthing ashore and its own crane, will be completed in time for the 2015 season.
There are 60-70 entries expected for the World Championships, from all over the world.
"The new Yacht Haven and our onshore facilities enable us to host up to 500 competitors and their boats in one compact location," commented Rear Commodore Graham Nixon.
He continued, "In combination with the ideal racing conditions in the northern Solent and our top flight race management team, we can now offer championship facilities the equal of anywhere in Europe."
Speaking on behalf of the J/80 UK Class Association, Social Secretary Rachel Woods said:
"The J/80 class is absolutely thrilled that the Worlds will be hosted by the Royal Southern in two years time. The club has supported the class for many years now with J/80 classes at all of their regular regattas, and in 2013 they added two more boats to their own J/80 fleet. The club has a reputation for excellent race management and while they remain absolutely professional at all times, they also boast a large team of extremely welcoming and enthusiastic staff. We know this will be an incredible event, and with the majority of the UK fleet on the South Coast we expect a big turnout. The last UK Worlds in 2012 is still the highlight of the last few years for many UK teams."
The Royal Southern's racing programme for 2105 is already available on the Club's web site at www.royal-southern.co.uk/Events and a copy of the printed programme can be obtained from the Club's Sailing Office.