One on one in Plymouth

RYA match race training to head southwest

Sailors in the southwest will have the perfect opportunity to hone and show off their match racing talents when the Royal Yachting Association and the Port of Plymouth Sailing Association host almost a month of match race training and racing events in Devon this summer.

Between Saturday 11 and Thursday 30 July, no fewer than six training and racing events will be staged from Mayflower Marina in Plymouth, including qualifier three of the 2009 RYA National Match Racing Series, at which a place in October’s Series Grand Final will be at stake.

There will also be a one-off PPSA / RYA Match Racing event during the Port of Plymouth Regatta Week.

With most of the RYA’s match racing activity in recent years centred round the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) and Queen Mary SC in Surrey, this move to the southwest will be used in part to assess the feasibility of staging similar regional match racing events around the UK in the future.

Entries are open for all the events but match racing teams from the South West area are being particularly encouraged to make the most of this opportunity.

John Derbyshire, RYA Racing Manager, said: “We welcome the joint venture with PPSA and look forward to providing a platform for some top class match racing development and competition in the South West.

“This is an excellent opportunity for South West-based sailors who may not have been able to make the trip to Queen Mary, for example, to take advantage of some quality coaching and well-organised, competitive racing and we urge anyone who is keen to get involved.”

Peter Noakes, PPSA Regatta Secretary, added: “I am very pleased that the RYA SW Region Match Racing event is being held in Plymouth this year.

“Bringing the RYA J80s to Plymouth, with the logistical support of the Mayflower Marina enabling them to remain here for a period afterwards, provides an opportunity to introduce a match racing event as part of the 2009 Port of Plymouth Regatta.”

To apply for an invite to take part in the Plymouth training and/or racing, or for further information about the events, visit the RYA website - www.rya.org.uk - click on Yacht Racing and follow the links to match racing or contact Jess Mapplebeck at jessica.mapplebeck@rya.org.uk

For information (NoR, SIs, Entry forms etc) concerning the Port of Plymouth Regatta go to www.plymouthregatta.com