RS Elite Association announces new sponsors

RS Elite National Championships © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

The RS Elite Association is pleased to announce Soak Insure as named sponsor for the Soak Insure RS Elite Southern Area Championship and the Soak Insure RS Elite Training Programme.

Soak Insure provides an insurance scheme for RS Elite Class Association members with a simple philosophy of getting you back on the water as soon as possible following a claim. As a specialist marine insurance broker, Soak provides insurance solutions for most types of marine risks, including sailing clubs and marine businesses. In addition, the Association welcomes ski rental company White Storm's offer to present a new trophy for a single nominated race in the Soak Insure Southern Area championship.

The Soak Insure Southern Area Championship will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend on 27th to 29th May 2023, hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club with all racing in Hayling Bay. A popular event with close, competitive racing and a great social scene, this year including a live band on the Saturday night and Black Tie dinner on the Sunday. Two races per day, with one of the races counting for the new White Storm Trophy.

The Soak Insure Training Programme will take place at three venues, Royal Burnham Yacht Club 15-16 April 2023, Strangford Lough Yacht Club (Northern Ireland) 22-23 April 2023 and Hayling Island Sailing Club 20-21 May 2023. The Hayling Island event will consist of one day's training followed by an open sprint event where visitors are invited to join club members in a series of short races to put the training into practice. All three events are open to RS Elite Association members whether or not they are members of the host clubs. Visitors to Hayling Island event are encouraged to leave their boats at the club to take part in the Southern Area Championship the following weekend.

RS Elite Association Chairman Jo Hewitson has said "I am delighted that Soak Insure has agreed to support the RS Elite Class in this way and that White Storm is spicing up the racing with the White Storm Challenge. It will help expand the growing excitement in the excellent one design racing this keelboat provides.

Simon Tonks, founder of Soak Insure, commented: "The RS Elite class has a unique combination of world class racing combined with a great social scene ashore. The training programme brings new crews together and gives them the tools to get the most out of their sailing, which we are very pleased to be able to support. I will be racing an Elite in 2023 and look forward to some close racing!"

Simon Hooper CEO of White Storm, commented: "White Storm is pleased to support the RS Elite class due to the huge amount of sailing talent in the fleet."