UBS Jersey Regatta - Focus shifts to the 16th edition

by Bill Harris on 19 Aug 2014 With a busy summer sailing season gently drawing towards autumn and with memories of light winds and blazing sunshine still fresh in the mind, the Island’s sailing community is increasingly focussing on the sixteenth Jersey Regatta being held in St Aubin’s Bay and southwards from 12th to 14th September. This leading event in the year’s packed sailing programme, organised jointly by the Island’s three sailing clubs, is sponsored for the second year running by global financial services company UBS AG.

Tom Hill,CEO UBS Wealth Management Jersey, says: ‘UBS are proud to be sponsoring this flagship Regatta that uniquely unites Jersey's sailors of all ages under a single banner whilst providing a very warm welcome and keen competition for visiting boats’.

Reporting on last year’s event, Regatta Chairman Bill Harris said that the organisers expect to at least match the spectacle of last September’s record turnout when spectators were treated to the sight of well over a hundred boats racing in the Bay. This was, undoubtedly, the biggest competitive Regatta that Islanders have ever witnessed in home waters.

An added attraction, this year, is the inaugural Spinlock IRC Channel Islands Regional Championships, one of nine such championships in the British Isles, that organisers expect to attract even greater numbers in the IRC keelboat classes. The Regatta is open to boats with a limited validity IRC rating, intended to encourage occasional racers to join in the cut and thrust of the IRC classes.

With back-to-back racing each day and a full social programme ashore the Regatta promises three days of fun, camaraderie and keen competitive racing for sportsboat, cruiser/racer, dayboat, sport-catamaran and dinghy crews. Organisers and local sailors alike are looking forward to providing an especially warm welcome to visiting boats coming to pit their wits against Jersey’s best.

The absolute cut-off date for entries is 9th September. Those received by 27th August, however, enjoy an ‘early bird’ discount. The entry fee covers all but the Regatta party on the Saturday evening. Full details are in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, available on the Regatta website.

The Regatta is also supported by Jersey Marinas who very kindly provide complimentary berthing for entrants and Jersey Tourism whose website, www.jersey.com, provides a wealth of information about where to stay and what to do on the Island. September is a very busy tourism month and sailors requiring hotel or guest house accommodation are advised to book early. It is worth noting that the award-winning Jersey International Air Display is taking place over St Aubin’s Bay on the Thursday of Regatta week.

The Regatta is organised jointly by the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club, St Helier Yacht Club and St Catherine’s Sailing Club. Further information is available from the Regatta office, phone 00 44 (0) 1534 73229 or e-mail info@jerseyregatta.com.