Well known names are ready for Plymouth Race Week

Barratt Homes Plymouth Race Week, this year’s big new regatta for the south coast, has caught the imagination of some well know skippers who’ve wasted no time in entering what is billed as ‘The Yachtsman’s Regatta’. And, with entry levels rising faster than could have been hoped for, is looking set to be just that.

Having recently moved back to the Plymouth area, Nick & Annie Haigh, owners of the DK 46 ‘Dark & Steamy’ are delighted to be sailing in Plymouth Race Week. Nick said: “We have been fortunate enough to sail in many locations throughout the world but Plymouth and the South West really takes some beating. We feel the week is a great initiative that will be good for the city, spectators and sailors, plus the format can be built on in the future. We’re ready and keen to race against many local yachts as well as those who will be traveling to the event. There’s a great mix of challenging conditions within the Sound and the opportunity to go well outside the breakwater, where you can experience superb surfing waves which makes this a stunning sailing location.”

A sentiment shared by the America’s Cup Event Authority who recently announced Plymouth as a the venue for one of the first three America’s Cup World Series events to be staged in September this year. Andy Williams, who enjoyed a successful Easter regatta in Cowes with his Prima 38 Max ’Ed Out, will lift the stakes in the South West Areas IRC Championship which takes place at the regatta, as will John McLaren on board his Kerr 39, ‘Maridadi’.

Tying in nicely with the regatta’s nominated charity Help for Heroes, Toe in the Water have entered a J109 and three J80’s adding to the numbers in ‘Open Mixed Sports Boat Handicap Championship’, the first of it’s kind to be staged in the UK. MOCRA have a large presence for their National Championships along with the SB3’s who are staging their South West Championships.

Strong entries from many other classes will be make competition over the four courses exhilarating for all skippers and crew. There’s still plenty of time to enter before the 29th June late entry cut off date so don’t delay as the ‘après sail’ will not disappoint either. Centered round the historic Barbican area of Plymouth, where the competing yachts will be berthed in, and close to, Sutton Harbour, the waterfront tented race village will be home to three nights of excellent live music and a charity auction on behalf of ‘Help for Heroes’, amongst many other amusements.

For more information, notice of race and entry forms, please visit www.plymouthraceweek.org