Race within a race

Seven J/109s to compete within this weekend's Women's Open Keelboat Championship

The Women’s Open Keelboat Championship this year is all set to go this Saturday, with a one design J/109 start and an IRC-rated class. 150 women will be taking part.

Kirsty Apthorp’s J-Dream has led the way encouraging six other all-female J/109 entries. All the women in this fleet are delighted to be able to pull together such interest in this competitive event. Together with the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Kirsty has organised level racing by using only number 3 genoas and a fixed crew number of nine.

Other J/109s include Team Breast Cancer Care (Gillian Ross’ Jamhali) which has its show on the road - pink Tshirts ordered and fundraising underway at www.justgiving.com/gillianross4 and there is an entry from Oxford University on Beth. Lis Robinson from Hot Rats will be tactician on Jody Windmiller’s J2Eau and Sarah Wallis and Becky Walford have entered Jamhali.

In the IRC fleet top SB3 sailor Sarah Allen has been loaned a J/80 last minute and is looking forward to competing against last year’s Championship trophy winner Louise Morton on her quarter tonner Espada. Anther boat to watch in the IRC division is Coffin Mew with J/UK which will be sailed by Marie-Claude Heys of J/UK and Sally Pike, head of Coffin Mew’s marine division. This entry is a new J/97 fresh from a fantastic start to its new career, coming second in class on the Round the Island Race two weeks ago.

The Saturday night of WOKC 2009 coincides with the end of Hamble Week. What better venue than the Royal Southern Yacht Club then to hold a party, with the best view of the fireworks? This is the view of Bob Clitherow of the St James’s Place Partnership, all set to sponsor WOKC this year at the evening gathering. Bob is a prominent local yachtsman known and loved by many on the Hamble and in Southampton, and he was delighted to be involved this year.

There will be plenty of Breast Cancer Care fundraising at the 'Frocks and Flipflops' party to include a fantastic raffle where prizes include a framed Ingrid Abery print and there will be the chance to have your crew photographed in return for a donation.

Bob from the St James’s Place Partnership is also joining in the party fun by providing a draw for a Magnum of champagne. He said “I know the yachting world well and recognise that the people involved with this event want to race competitively but party hard too. What better way to support this than with a draw for a bottle of St. James’s Place Wealth Management bubbly?! We are delighted to be working alongside marine retail heavyweight Dubarry of Ireland and regional solicitors Coffin Mew and look forward to seeing everyone on the night”.

Entry is still open and tickets can be bought from sailing@royal-southern.co.uk