How to enter
This year you can enter the regatta as a charterer or as a privateer.
Charterers buy a complete package from Polypipe which includes yacht, skipper, breakfast, afternoon tea, waterproofs and regatta entry. If you have chartered a Sunfast 37 or F40, sleeping on the yacht the night before at no extra cost is normally possible (Contact Andy Wallace at Sunsail first, tel no. below). Privateers enter their own yacht or a privately chartered yacht. They organise their own skipper, lunch and waterproofs and pay a regatta entry fee of £5 per foot. (Boat length, not crew members!) Privateers organise and pay for their own berthing at Port Solent if required. Yachts require an IRC rating. Contact me if you do not have one. Entering as a privateer gives the possibility of chartering the yacht of your dreams, either to race or to use as a hospitality vessel. If you intend racing, it is vital that you have insurance to cover you for this. (See details at bottom of privateer's entry form)
Those chartering from Polypipe can choose from the following:
20 no. Sunfast 37 - Wheel steered, easy to handle yachts with spinnaker. Race with 1 skipper and 7 crew.
New! 42 no, Sunsail F40 - These yachts form the new Sunsail Racing Fleet. They are brand new yachts and form the biggest matched racing yacht fleet in the world. Huge cockpits, wheel steered and racy looks. Race with 1 skipper, 1 mate and up to 10 crew.
15 no. Beneteau 40.7 - Big impressive yachts. Wheel steered, conventional spinnaker, easy to sail and lots of room. Come with skipper and mate to help with that big kite. Race with 1 skipper, 1 mate and up to 10 crew. These work out at much the same cost per crew member as the Sunfast 37s.
New! 5 no. Pilot Cutters - Pilot Cutters were state of the art sailing vessels used in the 19th century to brave the Atlantic and provide safe pilotage to large merchant ships returning to the UK. They competitively raced to these ships to win their work and pilotage fees. This fleet comprises modern and original examples. Tiller steered with lots of string and lots of sails. Great fun. Most race with 1 skipper, 1 mate and up to 12 crew. Pilot cutters will race for their own trophy.
In previous years the event has been won by both Sunfasts and Beneteaus. An F40 could win this year as the handicap system used ensures all yachts have an equal chance of winning. The yachts and skippers are allocated on a "drawn out of the hat basis".
Important differences from previous years! In order to keep costs down, I am intending to charter yachts without food or drink on them. I will still provide breakfast and also afternoon tea and cakes. You are welcome to bring your own food and/or drinks for lunch aboard your yacht. If you do want me to supply a lunch package for your yacht please order it below. Details of what is included in the lunch package are available from Andy Wallace. Please be sensible with any alcohol you bring aboard – there will be a lovely bar open in the Yacht Club for après sail!
Yachts in the regatta are identified with spray dodgers bearing the team's logo. All entrants are required to have these. If you need spray dodgers, contact details are below. Previous entrants will have put their spray dodgers in a safe place and will now need to find them. Don't forget them!
We have always had a number of all-female teams entering. A forfeit system is operated so if a male or mixed team is beaten by an all-female team, then that team will be invoiced £20 as a forfeit to go to our charity fund. It would be good to see more teams competing for the ladies prize this year.
New for this year! Buy your raffle tickets in advance and receive a 2011 regatta pennant to fly during the regatta. Waiting at the finishing line will be a team of pretty ladies handing out ice creams to all yachts with pennants. No pennant means no ice creams and no pretty ladies!
If you or your company would like to take part in this event, everything you need can be found here on this website. Either download the entry form which gives you all the necessary details or contact us.
