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Tuesday 1 May 2012

J Class Regatta Coming

We have heard from Sean at Hurst Castle that there is a new spectacular regatta that will pass Hurst Castle and Milford on Sea as they race around The Needles.
The J Class Solent Regatta is organised by The Royal Southampton Yacht Club and the J Class Association. 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.

A three-day competitive round the cans race Series is planned in and around the Solent on 18th to 21st July 2012, which can be viewed from the many vantage points along the shore and on the water.

The Solent was the traditional home of J Class racing in the UK during the 1930s, and The Solent Regatta will be hosted by The Royal Southampton Yacht Club (RSYC).

Race Programme

Wednesday 18th July: West Solent based race 20nm - Start 11am (Course around Christchurch Bay)
Thursday 19th July: Central Solent based race 20nm - Start 11am
Friday 20th July: East Solent based race 20nm - Start 11am

Hundred Guinea Cup Race

Saturday 21st July: Cowes around the Isle of Wight (Clockwise) 75nm - Start 10am

The Hundred Guinea Cup Race will be sailed over the original clockwise course around the Isle of Wight.  This was the course for 1851 Hundred Guinea Cup Race, which is now known as the “America’s Cup”.

About J Class Yachts

The 1930s era saw the birth of the Js - one of the greatest sailing Classes ever created.  Just 10 yachts were constructed, six in the USA and four in England. During this period there were never more than four J yachts racing together. Only three originals survived the Second World War - Shamrock V, Endeavour and Velsheda. They rested and rotted in mud berths, until their rebuild and rebirth as 21st Century racing superyachts.

With the formation of the J Class Association (JCA) in 2000, the possibility existed for replicas from history to be built and race again. New yachts have been launched and some are under construction. Most of these projects are expected to be completed by 2012, creating a fleet of the biggest, finest racing yachts the world has ever seen. Rainbow is expected to launch in 2011 and could line up against Endeavour, repeating the historic races for the America's Cup of 1934.

"No other class requires a crew 30 plus experienced sailors, handling more than 10,000 square feet of sail, driving a 200 ton hull at 16 knots around the course" In the 1930s they were the ultimate racing yachts. Now, with advanced rigging, hydraulics, carbon masts, composite ropes and electronic navigation systems, the new Js still represent the most demanding yachts in the world. Sailors just off TP52s, Volvo and America's Cup yachts declare their awe at the power, loadings, size, skill and management required to race these monsters, which are around 40 metres (140 feet) long and have a draft of 5 metres (16 feet).

Changing a genoa on a downwind leg takes 10 minutes and commits almost all the crew to lift and reposition sails, making every tactical decision critical. Yet these yachts are incredibly manoeuvrable, making them probably the ultimate racing yacht. And with no guard rails, spectacular to watch.



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