Ramsgate Week open for entries

The London Array-sponsored Cowes Week alternative to run at the end of July

Ramsgate Week 2011, sponsored by London Array, will take place over 25-30 July. The annual regatta, organised by the Royal Temple Yacht Club, is widely recognised as the friendly regatta and the alternative to Cowes.

Once again, Ramsgate Week offers a flexible programme for IRC classes, with a mid week series from Monday-Wednesday and this year they will host the IRC East Coast Championships for classes 0-3 from Thursday-Saturday. The ever popular cruiser classes will run throughout the week.

Sailing Programme:

IRC Coastal Series – IRC Classes 1-3 series of coastal races, 1 race per day from Monday to Wednesday with the Wednesday race being the ‘Round the Goodwin Sands’. This is a warm up series to the main IRC Series and competitors will be treated to some of the most scenic waters with races extending to Botany Bay, the shingle beaches off Deal and the wildlife around the Goodwin Sands.

IRC Regional East Coast Championship – IRC Classes 0-3 series of 6 races with 2 ‘Round the Cans’ races on Thursday; 3 Windward – Leeward races on Friday and 1 on Saturday for the famous Gold Cup. This series is also a qualifying event for SailEAST & the Gaetan Janssens International Series.

SailEAST - IRC Classes 1-3 a highly competitive 6 race series of SailEAST qualifying races as both part of the IRC Regional East Coast Championship Series. The best 3 races from this 6 race series will count towards SailEAST points.

X-35 Class - East Coast Open Championships, results to be extracted from IRC class 1. Series of 6 races with 2 races on Thursday, 3 on Friday and 1 on Saturday. This series starts on Thursday and finishes on Saturday. The X-35 class will sail under IRC with all boats using the class handicap.

Class 5 Unrestricted cruiser class with spinnakers. This is intended for cruiser sailors or racers who may be shorthanded for the week. There are no sail restrictions for this class but a yacht choosing to be rated in this class without spinnakers must remain without spinnakers throughout the entire series. Boats competing in this Class will be issued an RTYC Handicap TCF figure by the Race Committee. Handicaps may be adjusted to maintain the spirit of this class.

Class 6 Fast cruiser class without spinnakers. This is intended for the less serious racer with non high tech sails and the use of spinnakers is prohibited. Boats competing in this Class will sail a longer course than Class 7 and will be issued an RTYC Handicap TCF figure by the Race Committee. Handicaps may be adjusted to maintain the spirit of this class.

Class 7 Slow cruiser class without spinnakers. This is intended for the less serious racer with non high tech sails and the use of spinnakers is prohibited. Boats competing in this Class will sail a shorter course than Classes 5 & 6 and will be issued an RTYC Handicap TCF figure by the Race Committee. Handicaps may be adjusted to maintain the spirit of this class.

The Cruiser class 5,6 & 7 series starts on Monday with 1 race each day finishing on Saturday with the best 4 races from this 6 race series to count.

Entry fees

Entries for the full week Monday to Saturday Ramsgate Week Series will be eligible for early bird discounted entry fees provided they have entered and paid the regatta entry in full by 31 May 2011.

Competitors who have entered for the full week will be entitled to a 30% reduction in berthing fees. Berthing charges are payable directly to the Harbour not the Royal Temple Yacht Club upon arrival in order to qualify for the discount.