168th Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta
by Philip Jeune 21 Jul 19:24 BST
19-20 July 2025
Dayboats Pugwash, Soda and Tykki Duw - 168th Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta © Simon Ropert
The spirit of the Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta - 168 years old this year - is well and truly alive judging by this
year's event held over the weekend of 19-20 July.
Sailors of all ages, ranging from youngsters getting a taste of the historic regatta for the first time to highly experienced
sailors including two former skippers from round-the-world yacht races, faced challenging conditions that in no way
diminished the sheer fun that makes the event so popular.
Saturday saw light and variable winds, though thankfully there was enough to enable the cruiser fleet to enjoy a pleasant
spinnaker run coming around from St Helier. With the breeze rarely above ten knots and often lower, Race Officer Bill
Harris and his team on the end of the pier had tricky decisions to make as to what courses to select but, like the sailors
on the water battling light wind against tide, they rose to the challenge and succeeded in running the full programme of
races.
Sunday, however, saw everyone facing a very different challenge with much stronger winds that had peaked at near gale
force during the night. The wind continued at Force 5-6 during the morning but the race team's patience was rewarded
with a slight lull at lunchtime enabling racing to get under way about an hour late. Diminished fleets in both the
dinghies and cruisers enjoyed fast and exhilarating sailing during the first session of races but the wind picked up again
and the rain arrived leading to difficult sailing conditions in the second session that saw gusts up to 32 knots (Force 7).
It was, perhaps, no coincidence that the only cruiser sailing at this time was Matchless, helmed by Alex Thomson who
in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 1998/99 became the youngest skipper to win a round-the-world yacht
race at the age of 24, while the only dayboat left racing was Soda helmed by Will Carnegie, skipper of the yacht Veritas
in the 2000/21 BT Global Challenge.
At the Sunday evening prize-giving ceremony held at The Pembroke, Gorey Regatta Association Captain Justin Horton
spoke of the highs and lows that this year's event had experienced. 'The conditions pushed the limits of our young
sailors,' he said before inviting JE's Head of Customer Experience, Kate Gosson, to present the youngest competitors -
the 'Transition Sailors' - with prizes 'for just being out there today'.
Saying that it appeared to have been a fabulous weekend, Ms Gosson said it was good to see so many young people
participating in the regatta. 'It is clearly an important part of the Island's maritime heritage,' she added, 'and through its
sponsorship Jersey Electricity is delighted to help celebrate this fun event.'
Mr Horton concluded by thanking all the many people whose hard work had made the regatta possible, including the
race committee, the general committee, the shore team, the time-keepers and all the competitors before presenting the
Morning Cloud Trophy - a special award in the gift off the GRA Captain - to 13-year-old Imogen Heart in recognition
of the determination and enthusiasm she had shown throughout the weekend.
Cruiser results:
The Dog's (Allen Brown) - Glendewar Challenge Cup, De Faye Memorial Cup & Stevens Centenary
Challenge Cup
Indigo (Peter Crabb) - Richardson Trophy & Le Riche Challenge Cup
Matchless (Hani Salem) - Yangtze Cup, Betty Bruce Challenge Cup, Fairey Cup, C Austin Potter Trophy & 150th Regatta Cup
Dayboat results:
Tykki Duw (Gary Hollick) - Orviss Challenge Cup
Soda (Will Carnegie) - Frank Jeune Trophy
Dinghy results:
James Tilley - Norman Challenge Cup, Fourth Gorey Cup & Perchard Memorial Cup
Ollie Boyle - Assinder Cup & Gorey Cup
Lottie Ohlsson - Fifth Gorey Cup & Ecrehous Trophy
Richie Forbes And Liv Sherrington -Marmotier Trophy
Luke Haydon - Rosel Bowl
Captain's award:
Imogen Heart - Morning Cloud Trophy