Classics and Metre boats

Event to be held during Cowes Classics Week this July

The organisers of the Metre & Classic Keelboat Regatta are pleased to announce that the 2009 event will be held over 20-24 July during Cowes Classics Week. It again links directly into the Household Division Regatta on 25 July and the Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta 26 July, both events also for qualifying keelboat classes.

The event will again be closely co-ordinated with the British Classic Yacht Club Regatta being held during the same week and to which cruising yachts smaller than 30ft have been invited for the first time.

Racing will be co-ordinated by three principal Cowes yacht clubs: The Royal Yacht Squadron, The Royal London Yacht Club and the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, each taking responsibility for different groups of boats on different race tracks under the management of the Solent’s top race officers.

The 2008 event was a resounding success with higher levels of participation than expected. This year’s event is now anticipated to grow substantially due to both a larger turnout from last year’s classes and through classes new to the event.

Feedback from competitors highlighted the benefits of committee boat starts and separate clearly defined race tracks without interference from other fleets with a mixture of windward-leeward, round-the-cans and inshore passage races contributing to the regatta ethos. A full social programme also engendered the formation of a classic boats community among owners and crew who have a remarkable passion for these boats. So, picking the best from that experience and adding new ideas, Cowes Classic Week looks to grow in stature, become a major event on the International circuit and become a must-do event offering fun and excitement to owners and crew of these boats that have contributed so much to the history of sailing.

In addition to the established classes (6mR, 8mR, 12mR, Daring, Sunbeam, X One Design, Bembridge Redwing) a commitment has already been received from the Victories and Bembridge One Designs. Other classes are welcome and will get a class start with sufficient numbers or a class result in a mixed fleet. Or, individual representatives of any class may sail in a handicap fleet so that the event is inclusive for everybody eligible to race. For instance it is hoped that boats such as IODs, 30sq.m, and Tumlare will be represented - others such as Yorkshire One Design, Gareloch, Burnham One Design, Corinthian One Design, Classic Flying Fifteens and Dragons, etc. may wish to join in; they would be very welcome and serve to broaden awareness of these classes that exist all round the country.

The organisers are also aware that this visually spectacular and historically significant event generates an exceptionally high level of spectator interest. There will be plenty of opportunities for spectators to watch the racing from Cowes Green and to view the boats in the marinas before and after racing - a real benefit for the tourism economy of Cowes.