The Half Tonner revival continues

With a busy regatta schedule around the North Sea

The Half Ton Class Europe, picking up an idea from their Finnish counterparts, has decided to take over the sailing agendas of its North Sea-based members by creating a series of regattas for the ‘old’ IOR halftonners from the 1970s and 80s. A nice and appetising regatta menu has been created, containing seven sailing events prepared in the UK, France, Holland and Belgium, allowing most North Sea half tonners, and perhaps some other foreign entries as well, to participate in three or even four events.

As for other events this kind of organisation can’t live without the support of a dedicated main sponsor, so the Half Ton Class Europe is very proud to welcome CARE PLUS, a Dutch-based company specialised in health-related advice and products in the outdoor travel market. Thanks to the highly appreciated support from a few other companies like Radio Holland/Raymarine, Yachting Wave, AS-Adventure and others the organisers can offer a lot of nice prizes to the half tonners and their crews at the end of each regatta.

The seven regattas selected by the Half Ton Class Europe:

The season starts on Thursday 25 May with the double-handed Ostend to Ramsgate race (the Dover Strait Race), followed by a short cruise-in-company to Felixstowe where the half tonners will participate in the Port of Felixstowe Regatta on 27-28 May. The weekend after they continue with the Grand Prix de la Côte d’Opale from Boulogne to Dunkirk, from 3-5 June. The ½-Ton spring season ends on 17-18 June in Zeebrugge with the Light Vessel Weekend.

At the end of August the half tonners meet again in the Dutch harbour of Breskens for the Breskens Sailing Weekend and the Centennial Regatta of the Brussels Royal YC. This yacht club is offering the entry free to all participants from France and the UK… Mid-September the Half Ton Home Series in Nieuwpoort will commemorate the revival of the class that started here in August 2003. Radio Holland, the Belgian distributor of Raymarine products, has promised some nice prizes…

The season ends on 7 October with the Antwerp Race sailed on the River Scheldt, and finishing in the hearth of the city of Antwerp. The day after on Sunday 8 October the class will participate in the ProvAnt Sail Cup, a short series of demonstration regattas in the shadow of the Antwerp Cathedral, invented to allow the regions’ youngsters to discover sailing. Spectacular courses in breathtaking scenery, much to the enjoyment of both the crews and the public…

This series has not only been created for the existing fleet, but also to convince potential new owners to embark on these relatively low-budget but exciting sailing boats.