Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta - Looking back on 2025 and forward to 2026
by Claire Hallett 31 Jul 2025 13:43 BST
4-6 July 2025
As a sense of calm descends following the 17th Taittinger RSYC Regatta hosted by the Royal Solent Yacht Club in July, the event has been heralded a roaring success by the Club, sponsors and competitors, in spite of tough weather conditions. Next year's event is now confirmed for Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July 2026.
The enduring attraction of the Taittinger RSYC Regatta for crews from all over the UK and further afield is its neat package of competitive racing and phenomenal socialising across one intense weekend. Jonathan Blanshard of Skermisher commented that "The Taittinger Regatta continues to be one of the highlights of our season as the mix of social and sailing is just right."
Crews from the 198 competing boats came together at the Champagne Taittinger Reception on Friday evening to kick off the Regatta with a few glasses of Taittinger Brut Réserve in the sunshine, courtesy of the Regatta's title sponsor. RNLI fundraisers also received over £600 in donations during the evening.
New for the 2025 Regatta, the Royal Solent Yacht Club used two robotic racing marks, or Bots, from MarkSetBot, which are on hire from FourthCape Ltd in Cowes courtesy of sponsors Hall Hunter. The Bots were employed as outer distance marks for both Black and White Groups, and the advanced technology enabled the Race Officers to easily achieve precise course setting with no anchors. Competitors thoroughly enjoyed the brightly coloured Bots which were easy to spot and could be moved with a small adjustment on the Race Officer's tablet whenever the wind shifted.
This is the first time the Western Solent has seen this new technology - the world's first and most advanced robotic sailing mark system, which was used at last year's America's Cup.
Also new for this year, a Rock Concert at the adjacent Towers venue tempted many on Friday night and was a great addition to the hugely popular and monumental Towers Party on Saturday night. Friday's headliners were the Blue Water Giants, supported by Jamaican Superstar Derek Sandy and the incredible Wight Hot Pipes and Saturday's live music was provided by The White Gates Band, Lucia Phillips and Mosaic, Step on the Gas, the Wight Hot Pipes and Jack Russell.
Both evenings ended in a spectacular fireworks finale off the pier and the number of attendees at the Towers Party surpassed all previous records to raise a phenomenal amount for Cure Parkinson's and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The prize-giving on Sunday afternoon was made even more tantalizing by the three prize draws provided by the Regatta's main sponsors. Wight Marine donated a Honda 2.3hp short shaft outboard engine, which was won by Harry Hall of Svane, the Edelweiss & Gurgl Hotel in the Ötztal Alps donated a seven night half board stay for two in the luxury hotel's 1889 Panorama Suite, which applied to all the Class winners and was won by Andrew McIrvine of La Reponse and Champagne Taittinger donated a trip for two on Eurostar for a tour of the Taittinger Champagne Cellars in Reims, which was won by Jeremy Waitt of Alona.
Through the sales of its Taittinger RSYC Regatta caps, the Champagne Taittinger's charity prize draw raised just over £1000 in aid of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
Michael Anfang of sponsors the Edelweiss & Gurgl hotel enthused "We are absolutely delighted and would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the entire team on the phenomenal success of the 2025 Taittinger RSYC Regatta! We are especially looking forward to welcoming the winners to the Edelweiss & Gurgl hotel and ensuring they have an unforgettable stay with us."
Jamie Allen of sponsors the River Yar Boatyard shared that the yard had launched competing boat Illegal ahead of the Regatta and her crew had towed her non stop for 21 hours from Ireland to Yarmouth as they felt that the Taittinger RSYC Regatta is a fun regatta worth driving over 20 hours to!
It's clear that this jewel of a regatta on the south coast is a popular highlight of the sailing calendar that continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the ongoing support of its sponsors and competitors, the skill of the race management team and the unwavering dedication of the staff and volunteers.
Congratulations to the overall regatta winner, David Franks' J112e Leon, who took away the coveted Jeroboam of Champagne Taittinger, having triumphed in every race in their class.
Full results for the event
Save the date for 2026: Friday 24 - Sunday 26 July.