Royal Southampton Yacht Club

The Royal Southampton Yacht Club and the J Class Association are pleased to announce details of the Regatta Programme for the Solent planned for July 2012.

With the possibility of six, or even eight J Class yachts racing, this is expected to be an outstanding regatta, both for the competitors and spectators.

Racing is to be organised by the Royal Southampton.

The 2012 programme begins with four races based from Falmouth, home of the historic clipper yachts and first port of call for many Atlantic sailing events, before moving to the Solent. the Falmouth races will be hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club.

David Pitman, Secretary of the J Class Association, explained: “The Royal Southampton Yacht Clubwas selected because of the Club’s deep experience of organising and running major racing regattas, it’s great onshore facilities and close historic ties to the J Class fleet. We are delighted RSYC is hosting the 2012 Solent Regatta and are looking forward to spectacular, close racing.”

A three-day competitive round the cans race Series is planned in and around the Solent on July 18-20, 2012, which can be viewed from the many vantage points along the shore and on the water.

This Series will culminate with a prizegiving at the RSYC Clubhouse in Ocean Village, Southampton on Friday, July 20.

On Saturday, July 21, the fleet will assemble in the central Solent, again under the flag of the RSYC for the start of the Hundred Guinea Cup - a race around the Isle of Wight over the original course of the America’s Cup in 1851. Clockwise and without a time limit, this time it will include the Nab Tower!

Peter Armitage, Royal Southampton Commodore, said: “With strong tides and complex navigational decisions, the 2012 Solent Regatta will be a great challenge to the Captains and crews. RSYC is looking forward to running the racing for the largest J Class fleet ever seen on their ‘home waters’ of the Solent and planning is already well under way. We also look forward to welcoming everyone at our Ocean Village Clubhouse – which will boast a fully-staffed media centre – and at our Gins Clubhouse on the Beaulieu River.”

Finding suitable deep-water berthing and appropriate shoreside facilities for such a large fleet is often a challenge. Solent Refit, the new superyacht base on Southampton Water, has been selected as it is ideal and importantly, can berth all the fleet together. For spectators, the yachts can be viewed from the seaward side, together with their many beautiful support vessels.

Allan Foot, Solent Refit, commented: “We are proud to be hosting the J Class fleet during their 2012 Solent Regatta. With more than 280m of deep water berthing just south of Hythe Pier, we are ideally located close to the Solent race areas. A regular shuttle for competitors between our base and RSYC in Ocean Village is also planned.”