Fleet arrive for J Class Solent Regatta at Royal Southampton Yacht Club
by Michael Ford 18 Jul 2012 09:57 BST
18-20 July 2012
Velsheda in preparation for racing Ocean Village, Southampton © Michael Ford
Striking 140ft racing yachts return to the Solent today to revive an era of big boat racing reminiscent of the 1930s.
Four spectacular boats take to the Solent for the start of the three-day J Class Solent Regatta hosted and organised by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club in partnership with the J Class Association.
Four classic J Class yachts will be competing in the racing, the second of two UK regattas for illustrious class this year.
Although the celebrated J Class was founded in the Solent in the 1930s, only Velsheda among the four yachts racing this week is in home waters. When she is in the UK, she is based in Ocean Village, just yards from the Royal Southampton clubhouse.
The three additional yachts in the quartet, Lionheart, Ranger and Rambler are all making their first visit to Solent waters.
The Royal Southampton says planning has been underway for months to ensure a great mix of competitive sailing and fabulous social activities while hosting the J Class.
The Regatta is a three-day competitive round the cans series today, tomorrow and Friday. Due to the 16ft draught of the J Class competitors, racing is planned to start in the vicinity of Salt Mead and, depending on the conditions, will race out to laid marks in Christchurch Bay; towards the Nab Tower; or in and around the Central Solent. Each race will be about 20 to 30 miles in length.
On Saturday, the J Class fleet assemble in the Central Solent to compete for the Hundred Guinea Cup, again organised by the RSYC. With a start on the Royal Squadron Line at 10am, the yachts are scheduled race around the Isle of Wight over the original 1851 course, including the Nab Tower
Race officials from the Royal Southampton will be on board classic yacht Savannah, built in a J Class style, which will be used as the Committee Boat for the regatta, along with the Club's own launch, the Hound.
As the yachts race without guardrails, each will have its own safety boats fore and aft to shepherd away the hundreds of anticipated spectator craft.
The Royal Southampton was selected as the organising partner for the regatta because of the excellence of its race management and organisation. Each of the four J Class yachts competing has up to 30 crew.
RSYC Admiral, HRH Prince Michael of Kent is due to present the Club's coveted Queen's Cup trophy to the overall winner of the regatta on Friday evening.
Race director, Mike Garvey of the RSYC, said: "With the expectation of close racing between four J Class yachts we are looking forward to providing the J Class racing fleet in the UK with fantastic racing."