Champagne Charlie Platinum Jubilee Regatta at the Royal Southern Yacht Club this weekend
by Louay Habib 3 Jun 2022 08:17 PDT
4-5 June 2022
This Bank Holiday weekend, 4th to 5th of June, the Royal Southern Yacht Club will host the centre piece of the 2022 Summer Series, the Champagne Charlie Platinum Jubilee Regatta.
The regatta is supported by Charles Heidsieck Champagne and is an open event for club members and visitors to the Royal Southern Yacht Club. About 70 yachts and sportsboats are expected with hundreds of sailors enjoying the prestigious facilities at the Royal Southern's extensive clubhouse on the Hamble River. A glorious event is in store to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee
Racing at the Champagne Charlie Platinum Jubilee Regatta will take place on two courses. Up to six races will be organised for Black Group, which will feature IRC Classes and HP30s plus One-Design racing for the J/111 and Cape 31 fleets. Up to ten races will be organised for White Group for J/70 and SB20 sportsboats, which will race on windward leeward courses.
Black Group
Racing under the IRC time correction rule a wide variety of boats will racing with the Royal Southern YC. Sixteen different models of boat will be represented in three IRC Classes. Ian Atkins' ballistic GP42 Dark n Stormy is the scratch boat and will make its debut in a duel with Bertie Bicket's modified IC37 Fargo. Close battles are expected within the fleet between familiar adversaries including Becky Walford's J/92s Brenda's J, David Greenhalgh's J/92 J'ronimo, Mike Bridges' JPK 1010 Elaine Again, Gordon Craigen's J/105 Jacana, and Oliver & Sam Love's SJ320 Frank 3. The expansive collection of boats racing under IRC is exemplified by Fenton Burgin's Classic Six Metre Sioma, to one of the latest design from J Boats; Kevin Taylor's J/99 Jump 2 it.
A trio of J/109s from three different yacht clubs will no doubt have their own private battle. Michael Weinman's Je T'aime Jami from the Royal Thames, Derrick Evans' Jengu from the London Corinthian, and Anthony & William Tahourdin's Jedi from the Royal Southern. The smallest boat racing in IRC is Henry Rochford's Alacrity 18 Ipqu-Aya, and the 18ft design is not to be written off. The Alacrity 18 Eeyore is the holder of the Gold Roman Bowl, having secured back-to-back victories in the last two editions of the famous Round the Island Race.
Seven J/111s are entered for the Champagne Charlie Platinum Jubilee Regatta. Close one-design racing has been the signature of the J/111 Class, which have raced with the Royal Southern since 2014. The 2021 J/111 UK Nationals were held at the Royal Southern with two club members tying for first place. Tony & Sally Mack's McFly won on countback from Chris Jones and Louise Machin's Journeymaker II. Both will be in action for the Champagne Charlie Platinum Jubilee Regatta. However, bragging rights are with Paul Griffiths' Jagerbomb which won the class for last month's North Sails May Regatta.
Ten HP30s will be in action, the class is for boats of about 30ft that measure within a tight box rule under the IRC measurement system. Chris Townsend's Farr 280 Gweilo was the victor last month and will be the boat to beat this weekend. Jerry Hill's Farr 280 Moral Compass, Andrew Peake's Far East 28 Resolute and Jamie Rankin's Farr 280 Pandemonium are also in top form.
The Cape 31 UK Class has seen a meteoric rise and with 12 pocket rockets expected for the Champagne Charlie Platinum Jubilee Regatta, the Cape 31s will have their own class start for the first time. Royal Southern members racing will be Mike & Dave Bartholomew with Tokoloshe IV, Tony Dickin's Jubilee, Roger Bowden with Nifty and Simon Perry's Jiraffe. From the Royal Yacht Squadron, Russell Peters will be racing Squirt and Niall and Olivia Dowling will be racing Gallivanter. Royal Cork's Anthony O'Leary will bring his Irish crew, keen to take on the competition.
White Group
The J/70 UK Class will be competing in Round 2 of the 2022 Sprint Series with short sharp races producing close adrenalin pumping action for a bevvy of teams. 2021 Open National Champion, Jeepster with Graham Clapp on the helm, will be in action. Ian Poynton's Powder Monkey was the top Corinthian boat in last month's regatta. The SB20 Class will also be racing on windward leeward courses, nine SB20s, including three new teams, raced at the North Sails May Regatta, a strong turnout is expected for the Champagne Charlie Platinum Jubilee Regatta.
Supported by Charles Heidsieck Champagne, the regatta will have no shortage of fun and prizes for competitors. On Saturday 4th June, the Platinum Jubilee Dinner will be held at the Royal Southern Clubhouse with live music from The Deloreans. Dinner reservations are strongly recommended to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Enquiries by email to
For more information including on-line entry visit: royal-southern.co.uk
Full entry list here