Entry Open for 2017 J/80 World Championship

The 2017 J80 Worlds will be held in Hamble © Tim Wright / www.photoaction.com

The Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSrnYC) is delighted to announce that online entry for the J/80 World Championships in 2017 is now open! The Championships are open to the Members of the J/80 Class as defined by the J/80 Class Rule (C3.3) and entries will only be accepted via the event website, www.royal-southern.co.uk/J80-Worlds-2017/Enter-J80. The closing time and date for entries is 23:59 on Friday 12th May 2017.

"It is very exciting for the UK fleet that the J/80 Class will have its first Solent-based World Championship next year and we are looking forward to great racing against some of the world's best sailors," said Kevin Sproul, current and 5th time J/80 UK National Champion.

Claire Montécot, owner of French J/80 Startijenn, sits on the French Class Committee and is working with the UK J Boats agent Key Yachting to help promote the event in France.

Claire said: "At the recent J/80 Nationals in France, Joe Lacey and I presented at the Class dinner to make sure everyone was aware of the Worlds in Hamble next year. We also shared a video about the Royal Southern YC and handed out flyers to all competitors. I was delighted to hear that a lot of French sailors are planning to come and I will be keeping them updated on both the Worlds and French J/80 class websites."

The Royal Southern YC, based at Hamble, which is organising the Championships in conjunction with the J/80 UK Class Association, has published the Notice of Race (NoR), which is available for download, along with information on accommodation, travel, etc, on the event website. www.j80worlds2017.com. Regular updates will be posted to the site, which has already had more than 300 visitors with more than 55 expressions of interest being received.

The organisers are always grateful for the support of sponsors and are particularly pleased to accept the early commitment from Grapefruit Graphics and Brittany Ferries.

Grapefruit Graphics is a sports branding company, offering a broad range of services from sail graphics to hull wraps. They are world leaders in vinyl application and will support the Championship event by providing race decals and some terrific prizes for competitors. In the run up to the regatta, teams who have submitted their entry will automatically be entered into a draw to win bespoke branding for their boat, in a bid to be the best looking J/80 at the Worlds!

Brittany Ferries are offering competitors a reduction of 20% from the public fare at the time booked for travel on their Cross Channel services on daytime crossings only for the period June 30-July 19 2017. Brittany Ferries has created a unique landing page for customers wishing to take advantage of this discount offer, www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/J80-2017

The Championships take place from 8-14 July. Those wishing to charter or for more information on the J/80 Worlds, please visit the website, www.j80worlds2017.com,or or contact