UBS Jersey Regatta gets underway

by William Harris on 1 Sep 2015 Jersey’s annual sailing extravaganza, the UBS Jersey Regatta, gets underway this Thursday evening with an ice-breaking reception in St Helier Yacht Club. This is the event of the year when the Island’s three clubs, the Royal Channel Islands YC, St Helier YC and St Catherine’s SC, pool their efforts and resources to produce what is undoubtedly the Island’s showpiece sailing event.

The following three days will see great competitive racing for fast cruiser/racers through to dayboats, sport catamarans and Optimists; the helms of these tiny craft no less competitive than their big ‘brothers’! With the weather set fair, the beautiful natural arena of St Aubin’s Bay will be a blaze of colour and buzzing with activity as boats vie for the many prizes and trophies on offer.

As ever, the Regatta is an open event and visiting boats are sure to produce stiff competition for the local boys and girls. Indeed, many have earned quite a reputation for walking off with the family silver. One such challenge will certainly come from a boat with one of New Zealand’s greatest sailing sons aboard, the legendary Roy Dickson of One Ton Cup fame who will be racing in the Quarter Ton fleet.

As an innovation, this year sees the introduction of a coastal race on Saturday, designed to bring new and/or short-handed skippers and crews under the Regatta umbrella without exposing them unduly to the cut-and-thrust of ‘round-the-cans and Olympic course racing. Given the current forecast, their course may well take them around the Island, undoubtedly a challenging tactical race and one of the best ways to enjoy Jersey’s stunning scenery.

But it’s not all work! Each days’ racing rounds off with social gatherings; a Commodores’ reception on Friday, Regatta Party on Saturday and the marathon prize-giving on Sunday.

Now in its seventeenth year, the Jersey Regatta is being sponsored for the third year running by world-leading wealth manager UBS, the world’s premier international bank. Regatta Chairman Bill Harris in expressing the sailing community’s appreciation for UBS’ support said that the contribution a great sponsor makes to such an event goes beyond purely financial concerns. UBS’ enthusiasm, involvement and support for this community event are an inherent feature of the Regatta that everyone truly appreciates.

This year, the Regatta is pleased to be supporting the Jubilee Sailing Trust, a registered charity whose mission is to promote the integration of people of all physical abilities through the challenge and adventure of tall ship sailing.