High early entry numbers for Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta 2018
by Oliver Dewar 31 May 11:50 BST
20-22 July 2018
Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta 2017 © RSYC
An unprecedented number of early competitor entries for the 2018 Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta suggests that a record number of boats will race in the Western Solent during the South Coast's most popular, annual, yacht club regatta.
For the 11th year, Taittinger has returned as sponsor for a weekend of racing based in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, hosted and organised by the Royal Solent Yacht Club and supported by Charles Stanley. In 2017, 178 boats competed and with two months remaining until the regatta (Friday 20 July – Sunday 22 July) there are already 81 confirmed entries for this year.
Over the regatta weekend, the majority of classes will have two races on Saturday with one race on Sunday started from committee boat lines off the Island and Mainland shores. A class competing for the first time in this year's Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta is the SB20, the muscular, open keelboat renown for close and highly-competitive racing. These newcomers will join the regatta's famously diverse racing fleet which truly represents a yachting design timeline reaching back 100 years and includes Contessa 32; Folkboat; Gaffers; four IRC Divisions; IRC Classic Cruiser; IRC Swan; J24; J80; J109; two RYA NHC Classes; Sigma 38; X One Design (XOD) and Yarmouth One Design (YOD).
While the event's focus is on well organised and enjoyable racing, the social schedule ashore continues to supply entertainment for competitors and non-racing, shore-based family and friends. The regatta officially opens on the evening of Friday 20 July with the Champagne Taittinger Reception on the waterfront lawn of the Royal Solent Yacht Club. On Saturday night, the legendary Towers Party in the landmark property adjacent to the RSYC will feature, live music, food and drink and a spectacular fireworks display. On Sunday afternoon following racing, the prize giving and a hog roast on the RSYC's lawn will wrap up the weekend. For those attached to a competing crew, but opting to remain ashore, the RSYC's lawn and balconies will provide the perfect base for spectators and will remain open throughout the regatta.
The deadline for entries to then Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta 2018 is 16 July, but the Early Bird Discount (Dayboats £27; Keelboats £52) remains until 22 June.
Comments from competitors in the 2017 Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta:
"This event is always an outstanding success. It's well run and well sponsored, the courses were all good and the feedback I've heard from other boats confirms this. The weather has been fantastic and what else can you really ask for. Winning the event overall just tops-off a stunning event for my family and crew." Nick Bradley. Owner/skipper of Merak II (overall winner in 2017)
"It was a fantastic regatta, well run and it just worked out really well for us. Every year it gets better and better and the result is people keep coming back and new and interesting boats are always entering." Chris Hills of Folkboat winner Padfoot
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