2022 Brewin Dolphin RS Elite International Grand Prix preview

RS Elites at the Royal Yacht Squadron © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

Entries are now flowing in for the 2022 Brewin Dolphin RS Elite International Grand Prix, to be held at the Royal Yacht Squadron on 9th to 12th June, as competitors take advantage of the early the bird discount on the entry fee. At the time of writing there are entries from the UK mainland, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Norway, the United States and Antigua.

This event, which incorporates the RS Elite UK National championship, was postponed from 2020 because of the Covid 19 restrictions in place at that time. As always, competitors can expect the excellent race management for which the RYS is renowned. All social events, always popular with the RS Elite class, will also be held at the RYS.

Racing will take place in the Central Solent over windward-leeward courses, with three races per day on 9th, 10th and 11th of June and a single race on the 12th. On one of the first three days, to be nominated by the race committee, there will be a charity Race to the Start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line to the main committee boat start line, allowing spectators ashore to see a competitive RS Elite start at close quarters. The day chosen will depend on weather conditions.

Event organiser Charlie Egerton-Warburton has put a huge effort into making the whole thing happen. In the past he has organised a number of championship events for the RS Elite Class, including several Southern Area Championships and a memorable National Championship at the RYS in 2012. He insists that this will be the last event he will organise and he is pulling out all the stops to ensure that "Charlie's Last Hurrah" will be the best of all.

Notable in an entry list that includes many stalwarts of the RS Elite fleet together with an encouraging number of newcomers, is Toby Strauss, chairman of headline sponsor Brewin Dolphin. Toby was one of the original RS Elite owners in the first fleet at Hayling Island Sailing Club in 2005 or so, sailing T'n'T (Toby 'n' Trevor - the original co-owners). He is now sailing Vagrant which he shares with Rob Cruikshank. Other confirmed entries include former class chairman Steve Powell sailing E'Tu, current class chairman Paul Fisk sailing Legs Eleven and current and former UK national champions Tom Hewitson sailing Shaken Not Stirred and Russell Peters sailing Riff Raff. The remainder of the entry list has a healthy sprinkling of champions and top sailors from other classes.

The Brewin Dolphin RS Elite International Grand Prix will provide four days of close, competitive racing. There is a glittering array of trophies and prizes for winners of the international event and the national championship. The social events promise to be the best ever. Early bird entry discount is available until April 30th. Enter now to take advantage. Full details, including Notice of Race and entry form can be found at www.rys.org.uk/events/regattas/rs-elite-international-grand-prix/rs-elite-international-grand-prix-2020.