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Champagne Sailing at the Taittinger Royal Solent Regatta

On the weekend of 20th -21st July the Western Solent became the territory of the Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta 2013 with the event’s fleet of 173 boats based in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, for two days of racing and socialising.

Photo courtesy of Jake Sugden

A great IRC entry, boosted by support from the Solent IRC Owner’s Association (SIRCOA), meant that four IRC divisions were required and a new Classic IRC class was created to help accommodate members of the British Classic Yacht Club. For the first time, the new RYA National Handicap for Cruisers (NHC) system was used to create a level playing field for the unrated and cruising entries.

On Saturday, a perfect NE’ly F4-5 with bright sunshine set the tone from the very beginning and the Regatta’s 14 classes, fielding the greatest number of entries ever to compete in the event, began the first of two races on time at 10.00. The Black Group start, upwind off Berthon in mid-Solent, comprised four IRC divisions, the Swan Classics, Classic IRC and the Contessas, whist the White Group Nordic Folkboat, XOD, YOD, two divisions of NHC, Gaffers and International Dragon classes were dispatched upwind from a separate start line off the Yarmouth shore.

On Sunday, hot, bright but hazy, the NE’ly breeze started full of purpose but gradually faltered. With only one race it was important that as many classes as possible were given a finish and a good deal of activity by committee boats and RIBs helped make this possible, shortening courses at a number of places around the Solent.

Guy Prest, overall winner of the Regatta on Tarka II with a 1-1-1 scorecard in the Division 1 IRC, commented after receiving the Taittinger Trophy at the Regatta prize giving on the lawn in front of the Royal Solent Yacht Club (RSYC) on Sunday afternoon "The event was well organised, with perfect weather and Taittinger Champagne - who could ask for more."

Photo courtesy of Jake Sugden

Division 2 IRC winner Hannah Neve, owner of the Beneteau First 35 No Chance (last year’s overall IRC winner) said; “What a fabulous Regatta; Taittinger champagne sailing conditions over 2 days, superbly run by the Royal Solent YC and showcasing the Western Solent as the place to race!”

Roddy Steel, whose 1948 Norwegian Tumlare Stren won Classic IRC, gave confirmation that including a Classic IRC class was a good decision: “Thank you for a fantastic weekend and especially a thank you for the Classic IRC Class. Stren is an difficult boat with club handicaps and we find IRC to be a fair way of rating the boat. Great racing, courses, wind, tides and sun!”

Stuart Watson, who won the Nordic Folkboat class with Crackerjack, said “As always the R Sol YC ran 3 excellent long races for a strong Nordic Folkboat fleet that enjoyed the best racing conditions that we have had all season. Nordics from Yarmouth and Lymington all had a most enjoyable weekend afloat and ashore.”

Photo courtesy of Jake Sugden

While the sailing proved challenging, the social schedule at the Taittinger RSYC Regatta was equally demanding throughout the weekend focusing around the RSYC’s recently rebuilt and refurbished clubhouse with the major social event, The Towers Party, taking place at John and Sarah Caulcutt’s waterside property adjacent to the club: “Mother Nature's perfect combination of sunshine and a decent breeze laid the foundations for a memorable Regatta!” said Caulcutt, whose Yarmouth One Design, Puffin, also won the YOD class at the Regatta.

He went on: “With entries at an all time record the RSYC has clearly established itself as one of the 'must attend' regattas. The social side was equally enjoyable with the Towers Party recording an all time high of close to 1200 guests, whose spending at the various bars helped to support The Muscle Help Foundation and Geoff Holt's Wetwheels programme for disabled youngsters. These events are really best remembered for two things: Did we have good sailing...........yes we did! Did we enjoy ourselves..........you betcha!”

As bright sunshine flooded the grounds of the RSYC, Mike Lilwall, Director of Charles Stanley Group plc, closed the prize giving ceremony on Sunday: “Once again Charles Stanley was delighted to be co-sponsors with Taittinger of the Royal Solent Yacht Club’s Regatta. It is one of the highlights of our yearly regional calendar and is well supported by not only the local branch offices on the Isle of Wight, Southampton and Bournemouth but also by clients and friends of the firm. The weather this year produced pure ‘champagne sailing’ conditions and as ever the organisation was first class both on and off the water by the Royal Solent YC and the army of volunteers that make this event so special. We have enjoyed a long association with the event and look forward to the 2014 Regatta.”

Photo courtesy of Jake Sugden

Headline sponsor Mark Calver, of Taittinger Champagne, commented: “Yet again the Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta was a huge success. Superb weather and organisation ensured that the record number of competitors enjoyed the most amazing racing experience. The one thing that really makes me proud to be associated with this event is the general spirit of the event. For me this is 'The friendly Regatta'. It is really sociable, starting of course with the Taittinger Reception on Friday evening. However out on the water the racing is very competitive but as soon as the boats return it is amazing to see how people have renewed friendships or made new friendships in this open and welcoming event”.

RSYC Commodore Mark Hall said: “This year’s Taittinger Regatta was the best ever. Huge entries, blue skies and a great breeze. The RSYC had wonderful support from their sponsors Taittinger and Charles Stanley and the 800 competitors partied on Champagne, the Towers party and glorious weather. We are already preparing for the 2014 Regatta on the 25th of July.”

Perhaps the final word should go to Nick Bradley, who won the Contessa Class with Merak II. “Competing in the Contessa class at the Taittinger Regatta, superbly run on and off the water by the Royal Solent YC, reminded me why I enjoy sailing. Sunshine, perfect breeze, good competition, a champagne reception in probably the best setting in the Solent. It doesn't get any better. Oh, and we won our class to top off a great weekend.”

Full results from the 2013 Taittinger RSYC Regatta can be found on the Racing Results page.

Taittinger RSYC Regatta 2013 Podium Results:

IRC Division 1
1st Tarka II
2nd Dusty P
3rd Playing Around

IRC Division 2
1st No Chance
2nd Journey Maker 5
3rd Xcitable

IRC Division 3
1st Boomerang
2nd Bucaneer
3rd Antix

IRC Division 4
1st Madeleine
2nd Bad Toad
3rd White Mischief

Swan Classics
1st White Heather
2nd Mojitabel
3rd Swan Galiana

IRC Classic Cruisers
1st Stren
2nd St David’s Light
3rd Pazienza

Contessa 32
1st Merak II
2nd Blanco
3rd Drumbeat

Folkboats
1st Crackerjack
2nd Bonnie
3rd Padfoot

X One Design
1st Lone Star
2nd Princess Jalina
3rd Lass

Y One Design
1st Puffin
2nd Genista
3rd Blandina

RYA NHC Division 1
1st Bonni Lady
2nd Alize
3rd Elver

RYA NHC Division 2
1st Ocean Lore
2nd Rooie Rakker
3rd Unity

Gaffers
1st Windflower
2nd Rosenn
3rd Zinnia

International Dragons
1st The Old Bailey
2nd Aimee
3rd Virago


Photos

To view more photos, please visit our Photo Gallery.

Regatta photos are available to view and purchase from two sources:

Keith Allso
Website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallso/sets/72157634768622855/
Email: biggyin@hotmail.com

Jake Sugden
Website:    www.jakesugden.photoshelter.com
Email:        jakesugdenphotography@hotmail.com
Mobile:       07801 078315

Jake took more than 6000 photos of the Regatta and not all of them made it on to his website, so if you are looking for photos of your boat please contact him.

Jake's photos are priced at a nominal £10 and any profit will go to Charles Stanley's charity of the year 'Walking with the Wounded'.

A photobook by Jake Sugden showing highlights of the Regatta is also available to purchase - please click here to preview.


For all media enquiries, please contact:

Royal Solent Yacht Club, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight PO41 0NS
Tel: 01983 760256
Fax: 01983 761172
Email: office@royalsolent.org
Website: www.royalsolent.org

 

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