Cowes 2007 The British Classic Yacht Club

A welcome to all Spirit Yachts Regatta participants
from Tim Blackman, Commodore,BCYC.

The British Classic Yacht Club Regatta, held annually in Cowes, has rapidly become one of the highlights of the Cowes Racing Calendar, which is packed with international yachting events right through the season. The event is usually held the week preceding Cowes week and has been enthusiastically embraced by the yachting fraternity and the historic Cowes Yacht Clubs alike.

The sight of such classics racing in these historic waters reflects what many see as the heyday of yachting in the 30s and 50s and the BCYC membership is made up of many famous and iconic yachts from these periods. Yachts from the most famous British designers have been restored and returned to peak condition and now are raced competitively and enthusiastically. Because the regatta is a club event, there is a unique Corinthian atmosphere resonant of the pioneering racing days of 50 years ago and this spirit increases the enjoyment on the water and greatly enhances the social events during Regatta Week.

Club Membership

Membership of the Club is restricted to owners of eligible classic yachts only, creating an enviable fleet of yachts, the majority of which are between 11 metres and 22 metres in length. All the yachts carry a current Royal Ocean Racing Club IRC handicap which makes the racing accurate and close.

The BCYC and Spirit Yacht Regatta 2007 is to be staged during the International 6 Metre World Championships and the Metre Rule Centenary Regatta and as such is an integral part of a great classic racing fortnight. The existing synergy between Spirit Yachts and the BCYC member yachts promises to add significantly to the overall event.

It is with great anticipation that the British Classic Yacht Club welcomes Spirit Owners to their regatta.

BCYC & Spirit Yacht Regatta Cowes 2007

Initial Regatta Notice:

Saterday 14th July: 12.00 noon onwards: Registration at Cowes Yacht Haven, 18.30hrs Drinks reception Royal Yacht Squadron
Sunday 15th July: Classic Round the Island Race. Free Evening
Monday 16th July: Je Ne Saia Quoi & 18.30hrs Informal Dock Party
Tuesday 17th July: Ladies Day & informal racing. Tea on the lawn Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, 20.30hrs Spirit Yachts Dinner
Wednesday 18th July: Solant Race, 18.30hrs Sail4Cancer Pimms Party
Thursday 19th July: Morning: Solant Races, Evening: The British Classic Yacht Club and Spirit Yacht Ball
Friday 20th July: Long Inshore Race. Evening TBA
Saturday 21st July: Morning: Solant Races, Evening: Prize Giving Dinner at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

Registration:

Please register your interest in attending the BCYC and Spirit Regatta as early as possible to receive Notice of Race.

It should be noted the the BCYC and Spirit Regatta will run concurrently in Cowes with the International 6 Metre World Championships (15th-20th July) and The IMETA Centenary Regatta (22nd-28th July). It is therefore advisable to secure accommodation as early as possible.

Notes:

The Spirit Regatta will be run as an integral part of the BCYC Regatta, using the same regatta infrastructure, and sharing a majority of the social events.

Classes:

Class 1: Spirit/Racing Yachts - IRC Rating
Class 2: Cruiser Racer - IRC Rating Endorsed
Class 3: Cruisers - IRC Rating

Racing:

Solent Races will be run from a Committee Boat start (this enables the race officers to chase the breeze around the Solent if necessary). All classes will race from the same line, and the same course, but there will be times that may be staggered. For The Round the Island Race, all classes will start together, and whilst this race is included in the points, it will have it’s own trophies. Saturday has been chosen for the Race as there is a possibility that we may be able to open the race to entrants from the other two regattas on that day.

Points:

A low scoring point system is used.

Mooring:

The BCYC has secured mooring for the event in Cowes Yacht Haven. Regatta entrants will need to book and pay for their mooring through the BCYC. This payment will be requested as part of the formal application for the event following pre-registration and is not included in any Regatta Fee.

Social:

Each social event will be ticketed individually, and tickets will need to be bought in advance at entry to the regatta, but there will be an opportunity to ‘adjust’ numbers at Registration.

Further information

http://www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/regatta.htm