Big boat team racing

Eight club teams lined up for this week's Royal Lymington Challenge Cup

Two champions of the weekend will go head to head at the Royal Lymington Challenge Cup which starts on Thursday. Peter Scholfield’s Zarafa and Jim Macgregor’s Premier Flair both won their classes respectively in the weekend’s Round the Island Race. In IRC division 2A Zarafa, a HOD 35 saw off 43 yachts to gain her victory, while Elan 410 Premier Flair beat a class of 65 in IRC Division 1A. The numbers prove that they are both forces to be reckoned with.

The pair now find themselves together in Class 1 along with yachts from six other competing clubs as they head out to Christchurch Bay for the first of Thursday’s two windward leeward courses in the 3-day 3-boat team event.

Eight clubs in total are entered into this unique new event. There will be a ‘round the cans’ Solent race on Friday and another windward leeward day on Saturday.

Chris Neve, Event Chairman, said: "we are really looking forward to racing out in Christchurch Bay in what will be a hotly contested event with old rivalries coming to the fore with the honour of their clubs at stake".

Each club team is fielding three yachts in one of three IRC rating bands: Class 1: 1.026 - 1.080, Class 2: 1.001 - 1.025, Class3: 0.955 - 1.000.

Entries have been received from:

Parkstone YC
Poole YC
Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Temple YC
Royal Naval Sailing Association
Petit Bateau
Royal Southampton YC
Royal Lymington YC

The event is sponsored by Seatrack, the software package that provides a one-stop, integrated performance, tactical and navigation system for all types of yacht and powered craft.