GJW Hayling Island Whitsun Regatta 2019: 25-27 May

Class racing for Tasar, RS Elite, Flying Fifteen, International 14, RS700, RS800, 29er, RS200, Solo, RS Feva, RS Tera and Optimist. 

Edit: And of course handicap starts for all comers!

There's also a big bank holiday pursuit on the Monday, so you can stay and make a long weekend of it. 

But this is the Whitsun Regatta. It's not a 'class racing only' thing, it's a traditional club regatta, with more of the FED week family vibe (but not exact racing format and starts). Like FED week, although many classes support their own start, there's still a big contingent of handicap racing. And unlike a championship it's more of a getting on the water holiday feel, which I was describing as the 'FED week vibe'.

Whitsun has replaced the previous HISC regatta, which traditionally was right before FED Week. And with the Commodores cup right after. Which was a lot of events and most people were skipping the weekends to focus n FED week and so the regatta (and Com Cup) was getting overlooked and attendances were down. 

So the idea was to move the club regatta to Whitsun Weekend, invest in big socials, move the racing to the bay and basically distinguish itself at it's own standalone event. 

Several classes have incorporated their class opens in to the Whitsun for 2019, which should boost numbers. It's just a very cheap way of getting a two day event at the club... £25, rather than £50. And then there's a cheap charity pursuit on Monday too... basically three days sailing for less than £40. For some fleets this is perhaps a compromise on sharing courses and format, but many were doing that anyway. On the other hand, the socials will be bigger and the event possibly more family friendly in that kids / spouses can sail in other fleets.

VR sport made a couple of videos capturing a little more of the event than my RS200 Saturday only video...