Fancy the English Rivera?

Torquay and Torbay open for regatta business once again after extensive investment

Torquay is back on the sailing map with the completion of a £21 million pound harbour regeneration project says the Royal Torbay Yacht Club. Torquay harbour now boasts a brand new slipway and extensive hard to meet the demands of world class dinghy and keel boat classes. A footbridge now links the marina with Beacon Quay where new harbour side business premises including restaurant, pub, marine industry shops and cafes have been opened.

Sailing from Torquay hosted by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club had a world class reputation. However the closure of the Second World War slipways and the regeneration project meant that for the last 3 years has seen Torquay slip off the map.

The next phase due for completion in late 2007 is a Town Dock on the eastern side of the outer harbour that will provide berthing for local and visiting boats for championship regattas. The club is hoping to once again attract open, national, European and world sailing events to the fine waters of Torbay - catering for large dinghy and keel boat fleets such as IRC, IRM and One Design classes.

Backing this regeneration the Royal Torbay Yacht Club has given the club house a major refurbishment, improved the bar and catering facilities and is training race officers and support teams.

The bay provides a natural amphitheatre, and the waters are sheltered from the prevailing SW winds. This is one of the reasons Torbay was selected to host the Olympic sailing events in 1948. Its most recent large regatta was the 2005 Melges 24 European Championship - which attracted 51 teams.

A beauty of Torbay is the proximity of the racetrack to the marina and slipways - sailors can literally leave the dock and be sailing on the course in minutes. Move out of Torbay and you have the extensive sailing area of Lyme Bay which has been used to host Ton Cup World Championships and Dragon Gold Cups in the past.

Torquay not only provides excellent on water facilities but as one of the UK’s leading holiday destinations it has superb restaurants, bars and clubs many close to the Yacht Club. The RTYC is negotiating with local hotels, guesthouses, letting accommodation and caravan and camp sites to help visiting sailors find the accommodation that meets their requirements at best price. The 2007 Regatta will take place over August 27th to 29th and will re-introduce the Harbourside après sailing fun that was the hallmark of the past Torbay Royal Regattas.

The Royal Torbay Yacht Club is launching a promotional campaign to attract the best UK fleets large and small by providing either single fleet or shared race management opportunities. Fleets looking for a location to hold future events should contact Roger Porteous, Secretary, Royal Torbay Yacht Club:
Tel: 01803 292006
http://www.royaltorbayyc.org.uk