Felixstowe Regatta - Preview

On the eve of this year’s Felixstowe Regatta (Saturday 3rd – Sunday 4th July), the organisers are promising a bigger and better event than ever before.

The highlight of the East Coast yachting calendar, the Regatta is being sponsored for the second year running by the Haven Gateway Partnership, whilst Fox’s Boatyard & Chandlery will sponsor the Saturday racing, and the Sunday racing is to be sponsored by Musto Clothing.

This year’s Regatta is taking place later than usual – it has been moved from its previous slot at the end of May to take place in the first weekend in July. The later date has the advantage of being comfortably after the pressures of GCSE and A level exams but before most schools break up and families head off on their summer holidays.

As well as a series of races for modern IRC rated yachts, including sportsboats and J80’s, plus locally handicapped cruising yachts, there is now the opportunity for Multi-hull yachts to take part, which is expected to produce an increase in the number of participants.

The Regatta forms part of the SailEast 2010 IRC Series and also includes the J80 Class Eastern Championship as well as MOCRA (Multi-hull Offshore Cruising & Racing Association) using this event as event as part of their East Coast Series.

The Haven Gateway’s sponsorship of the Felixstowe Regatta underlines the importance of the subregion’s marine leisure sector.

“The marine leisure sector is worth £85 million a year and employs 1,800 people in the subregion,” says Richard Morton, project director of the Haven Gateway Partnership. “We have over 10,000 leisure berths and river moorings in the Haven Gateway and this is a great opportunity to tell people about the wonderful sailing that is available here.

“Our sponsorship of the Felixstowe Regatta will highlight our thriving marine leisure sector and help promote the Haven Gateway not only as an excellent cluster of maritime and marine leisure services but also as a destination for visiting yachtsmen and women.”

The Regatta also features a packed programme of shore-side events, including dinners, entertainment, hospitality and prize-giving ceremonies.

The website has been re-designed, this will provide more information and make the entry and registration process easier for competitors, as well as being able to post the results of races in real time. Visit www.felixstoweregatta.co.uk

The Felixstowe Regatta is run by a volunteer committee made up of members from Royal Harwich Yacht Club, Walton & Frinton Yacht Club, Haven Ports Yacht Club, Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club, and Waldringfield Sailing Club.

The deadline for entries is Friday 25th June. Entries after that will incur a surcharge. For entry details, consult the website www.felixstoweregatta.co.uk