Royal Yacht Squadron's Bicentenary Regatta - Preview
by Marina Johnson 25 Jul 2015 08:09 BST
27-31 July 2015
Entries are still coming in right up to the wire for the Royal Yacht Squadron's Bicentenary International Regatta and now stand at 72 in the IRC class along with 10 teams in the Team Racing division and 10 Level Rating entries. Many of the stars of world sailing will be gathering in Cowes from 27th July for five days of competitive racing.
The Sailing Instructions have been updated and now confirm that the three J-Class yachts, Velsheda, Lionheart and Ranger, will be providing a spectacle on the Royal Yacht Squadron's line each morning, as they line up for a 1030 start. The J's are undisputedly one of the big pulls of the event but with Class Zero following close behind, spectators can expect a phenomenal sight as the likes of Bella Mente, Leopard and Rambler fight it out to get away from the start. The exception to the start times will be on the Wednesday 29th July for the Race Around the Island, which begins at the earlier time of 0800.
The direction of the Race Around the Island (being referred to as RATI) will be clockwise, in the opposite direction to the popular annual Round the Island Race, although there is a contingency plan to substitute a long offshore race if weather conditions demand it.
The level racing fleet comprises the Farr designed Beneteau matched First 40 yachts supplied by Sunsail. This fleet of identical yachts will provide a highly competitive platform between the crews of the competing clubs which include seven from overseas, the New York Yacht Club, Real Club Nautico of Gran Canaria, Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Royal Varuna Yacht Club, St Francis Yacht Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Four UK clubs will also be competing including the Royal Ocean Racing Club, Royal Yacht Squadron, the Royal Solent and Royal Thames Yacht Clubs.
The Team Racing event in the J70s will have courses laid in the Osborne Bay area, to the East of Cowes, for all five days of the event. For the Level Rating and the Team Racing classes, crew skills and team work will be paramount for success.
All IRC and level rating yachts are carrying a TracTrac GPS unit for the duration of the event so that they can be followed.
The event is packed with off the water activity. As well as a variety of class parties and the RYS Bicentenary Regatta Grand Party at Osborne House, North Sails will be holding their panel discussion at the Cowes Yacht Haven hosted by Ken Read featuring Sir Ben Ainslie, Sam Davies and Jimmy Spithill. Entry is free and open to all competitors.
Sir Ben Ainslie will presenting the prizes Friday 31 July 2015 at 17:30.
All information can be found on the event website www.bic2015.org