Half Ton Cup update

Boats coming from far and wide to join in revitalised event

The organisers of the Half Ton Cup 2003 have announced another new sponsor. This one appropriately is involved in wind energy (how suitable!): Belgian company C-Power joins main sponsor Ecover and fellow race day sponsors TBS from France and the local dredging company Decloedt, part of the DEME-group. C-Power plans the construction of a giant windmill-plant on the Thorntonbank, at the outer limits of the Belgian territorial waters, close to Holland.

The venue of C-Power clearly underlines the ecological and environmentally friendly aspects of sailing which will be highlighted during the Half Ton Cup. Besides this, all competitors are advised to bring an extra suitcase to carry home the incredible Half Ton Cup welcome-pack.

With the sponsor-pool now complete, all eyes are now focussed on the racing itself, which brings us to the second good news: not less than 25 boats have send back a completed entry form and it looks as if fierce battles will be fought out across the Flemish sandbanks since many production boats carry incredible low IRC-ratings which might proove, with a little help of the wind, to be very hard to beat.

The organisers are more than pleased with the venue of all these fine yachts to Nieuwpoort. Take for example Blues, who will travel all the way from Helsinki, Blue Berret Pi coming from the land of the green shamrocks, Sibelius travelling from La Rochelle and Diablesse from La Trinité... Not to forget all the UK-based boats crossing the Channel this summer.

A new trophy -the Half Ton Classics Cup - is in the process of being designed and made, the original one is believed to be in Greek hands and no longer available.

New entries are still accepted until 1 August. The entry form can be downloaded from the website at www.halftoncup.be.

Entry list as per 9/7/2003:
Alchemist (proto Dubois 1978) GBR
Bellaquaine (proto Humpreys 1984) BEL
Bijou (serie - Starlight) FRA
Blue Berret Pi (proto Berret 1989) IRL
Blues (proto Södergren 1980) FIN
Calcaneum (serie - Feeling 850 racing) FRA
Diablesse (serie - Golden Shamrock) FRA
Dick Dastardly (proto Berret 1985) GBR
Douce Folie 2 (serie - Super Arlequin) FRA
Envol (proto Joubert 1982) BEL
Exclusiv (proto Berret 1978) BEL
Freya (serie - First 30ES) BEL
General Tapioca (proto Berret 1978) BEL
Half Moon (proto Berret 1978) BEL
Harlequin (proto Jones 1986) GBR
Hullabaloo XV (serie Hustler 32) GBR
Harmony (proto Humphreys 1980) GBR
Little Imp (serie - Golden Shamrock) BEL
Pastiche (serie - Ufo 31) BEL
Radio 6 (serie - Feeling 850 racing) FRA
Red Cloud (proto Joubert 1982) BEL
Redika (serie - Feeling 850 racing) FRA
Seawitch (serie - Scampi) BEL
Sibelius (proto Joubert 1980) FRA
Waverider (proto Davidson 1977) BEL