Jubilee diluted

Ed Gorman argues that the decision to split the America's Cup Jubilee into three could dilute the impact of the event

The upcoming America's Cup 150th Jubilee Regatta being hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron should be one of the most spectacular and memorable events ever staged on the Solent.

However there is already some concern that the way the regatta is being organised could reduce its impact. The key area is the decision to stage racing for the various America's Cup fleets at opposite ends of the Solent.

The likelihood is that about the only time all the yachts will be seen together - or even in the same area of water - is when they are on their moorings before and after racing.

John Caulcutt, who will be campaigning his own America's Cup Class yacht in the event, told madforsailing he was dismayed at the decision to split the fleets.

"It's going to be a zoo - all the boats are going to be so spread out and that's a great pity," he said. "There are going to be boats whizzing in all directions whereas it would have been much better if they all started off Cowes and raced down from there."

Caulcutt believes the re-enactment of the historic Round the Island Race on the Tuesday of the regatta would also be far more spectacular if the starts are not staggered into five separate groups, as is planned.

"If you can get 1,800 boats racing round the island every year together without too much incident, I can't see why they can't have the Jubilee fleet going round all together," he said.

Marcus Hutchinson, the press officer for the Jubilee, defended the decision to split the fleets into three principal course areas. The modern ACC boats will race east of Bembridge Ledge, the 12 Metres will race between Hillhead and Ryde while the remaining classes including the three Js, the Classics and the Modern boats, will race from Cowes and into the western Solent.

Hutchinson said the sheer size and speed of many of the yachts made it imperative to spread them out as much as possible. Referring to the 150-strong group that will start off Cowes, which includes the Classic Vintage, Spirit of Tradition and modern IMS and IRM yachts, he said: "The point is there are 150 of these boats and their average size is 70ft. We're not talking about Cowes Week when the average size is 30ft.

"The other point is that these boats will be going pretty quickly. We've got very strong spring tides during the regatta and some of these yachts will be hitting 20 knots over the ground at times and there just isn't enough space for that," he added. Hutchinson explained that the 12 Metres, meanwhile, will be staging a world championships with 37 yachts taking part, based on windward-leeward courses for which they will need their own race area.

Another aspect of the regatta not generally appreciated is that while all 208 boats entered must be by owners or yachts clubs associated in some way with the America's Cup, only around 32 yachts coming to Cowes have actually sailed in a Challenger or Cup series. The rest are made up of classics and some modern race boats.

Hutchinson said the combined fleet will provide a wonderful demonstration of the way in which the America's Cup has influenced yacht design over the last 150 years. "This is a festival of sail to celebrate 150 years of the America's Cup," he said. "By allowing a lot of these classic yachts to come to the event - many of which have never been to the UK before - you will be able to see a full range of yacht design over the last 100 years."