A tempting and varied programme of
Spinlock IRC GBR Championships for 2020
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What a selection....
IRC Solent Championship - IRC Bristol Channel Championship (NEW) - IRC Double Handed Championship - IRC East Coast Championship - IRC National Championship - IRC Channel Island Championship - IRC Inland Championship - IRC South West Championship - IRC Welsh National Championship - IRC Southern Championship - IRC Scottish Championship
More information on each event is shown below (in date order)
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May to September
Spanning the full length of the Solent from Portsmouth in the East to Yarmouth in the West, this series aims to encourage IRC-rated yachts in a wide range of competitive racing. Post-race hospitality at the host clubs provides the opportunity to experi-ence the unique atmosphere of each, as well as socializing with your fellow competitors.The Championship is open to all IRC boats with a TCC between 0.750 and 1.360.
See also individual event sites:
Image: SCRA
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16/17 & 30/31 May
Portishead, Cardiff Bay and Swansea clubs have consolidated their annual joint series into the new Bristol Channel Spinlock IRC Championships. The winner over 4 days of racing takes the Shanghai Cup, a formidable prize first raced for in China in the early 1900s. Competitors in the past have also travelled to Dartmouth, Falmouth and Cork - now is the time for a rematch in home waters.
The dates for the Shanghai IRC series are as follows:-
16
th/17
th May 6 races in Portishead
17
th May “ Boatfolk” Feeder race to Cardiff
30
th/31
st May 6 races in Cardiff Bay with prize giving in the evening of 31
st May
Image: J/92S 'Hullabaloo' chases 1985 One Tonner 'Hero'
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22-25 May
Scotland's premier yacht racing regatta happens every year on the second bank holiday of May in the stunning setting of Tarbert, Loch Fyne and in 2020 will again incorporate the IRC Scottish Championship.
There is something special about the Scottish Series that draws competitors back year after year. The event began in 1975 through the enthusiasm of sailors wanting to race their boats and combine challenge with enjoyment. Passage racing combined with Olympic triangles created variation and something for everyone and this is still the vision today. The village of Tarbert has welcomed the event since 1977, offering a sheltered anchorage and plenty of bars to exchange tales after a day on the water! Onshore entertainments and good craic, influenced by the Irish contingent, has become as much a part of the event as the sailing.
The sailing programme on Loch Fyne offers great variety and the social programme includes big bands and a bar, and food will be available during the day.
Image: Marc Turner / Clyde Cruising Club
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23-25 May
The much loved International Paint Poole Regatta provides competitive racing across a variety of racing classes and in 2020 will host six class championships and three high profile race circuits. Coupled with its renowned evening socials it is a weekend not to be missed. IRC classes at the event include
IRC 1, 2 & 3 including The
IRC Spinlock Southern Area Championship;
Fast 40+Class; Performance 40 Class and Quarter Ton Class.
In 2020 only five days separate Poole Regatta and the world famous Round the Island Race. For yachts participating in both events, exclusive special benefits have been arranged in Poole to provide a seamless experience. Competitors doing both Poole Regatta and the Round the Island Race (30th May) can take advantage of either a free swinging mooring in Poole harbour (subject to availability) or a discounted marina berth at Poole Quay Boat Haven for the four nights following Poole Regatta.
Image: Ian Roman / International Paints Poole Regatta
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26-28 June
The annual IRC National championship brings together the cream of IRC boats competing in tightly banded classes.
Up to eight races are scheduled with a mixture of windward/leeward and round the buoys courses designed to accommodate the various strengths and weaknesses of the competing boats. There will be prizes for class winners as well as an overall prize.
With the rating system providing a great leveller this event is a fantastic opportunity for the smaller IRC boats to pit their wits against the pure racing machines.
A unique formula allows the overall winner to come from any class, giving the smaller boats as much chance as the grand prix racers to claim the overall title if sailed well.
Image: Paul Wyeth pwpictures.com/RORC
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29-31 July
Euromarine Ramsgate Week is the Royal Temple Yacht Club's annual regatta and widely recognised as the 'friendly regatta'. The event is pleased to have a headline sponsor in locally based Euromarine Insurance.
Once again, the regatta will incorporate the 2020 Spinlock IRC East Coast Championship. This will be held between Wednesday 29th & Friday 31st July and will include a day of 2 windward-leeward races for the QE2 Cup; a coastal race followed by the famous Ramsgate Gold Cup around the cans - 4 races over 3 days attracting entries from the UK, France, Belgium and Holland. The intention is to have 3 IRC Classes for the event.
After a challenging day's sailing between the North and South Forelands you are within a five minute walk from your berth to the Royal Temple Yacht Club where you can socialise with fellow competitors whilst enjoying the club's renowned hospitality and live music.
Image: Champion Marine Photography www.championmarinephotography.co.uk
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14-16 August
The Royal Dee Yacht Club and Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club will again host the 2020 Spinlock IRC Welsh National Championships from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th August. This open event will use the facilities of the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre, with the 2020 race management organised by The Royal Dee Yacht Club team.
Racing will take place on the world renowned sailing waters of Cardigan Bay with the dramatic scenery provided by the mountains of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula and is only a short sail from the Marina. Minimal tidal influences and being open to the prevailing winds will provide superb championship quality racing conditions. The Event Centre Visitor pontoons and the Hafan marina berths forms part of the excellent marine facilities at Pwllheli with chandleries, boat yards, sail makers, parking and spaces for motorhomes - all you will need for a fabulous championship.
Image: Welsh Championship IRC2 Winner 'Injenious' J/97
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22-23 August
The Royal Torbay Yacht Club has been a sailing hub since 1863 and has recently won RYA Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year 2019. Off the back of a spectacular year of events the club is looking forward to another great Torbay Royal Regatta, with racing for IRC and other classes taking place over two days on some of the finest sailing waters in the UK. This year sees the Spinlock IRC South West Championships returning to Torbay as part of the regatta.
Ladies in sailing will be specially recognised with prizes in all classes and the prestigious Addison Gold Cup being awarded to the highest placed IRC boat with a predominately female crew.
Free berthing is included in the entry fees and from the sheltered harbour there is quick and easy access to the race areas.
Image: Jean Border Photos
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12-13 September
The 22nd edition of the combined clubs’ Jersey Regatta sees leading offshore law firm Carey Olsen in its first year as title sponsor of this flagship event. With a warm welcome and three days’ keen racing and social activity awaiting them, the Regatta is open to all local and visiting boats.
The Regatta opens with a welcoming reception on the Thursday evening and a coastal race for sportsboats and cruiser/racers Friday morning. This is, effectively, a warm-up race for the Championships proper that run to the south of St Aubin’s Bay over the Saturday and Sunday. Two back-to-back races over olympic and ‘round the cans’ courses are scheduled for the Class 1 cruiser/racer fleet each day; three for Class 2 and Quarter Tonners.
In addition to the Spinlock IRC Championship prizes, Regatta trophies and place prizes are awarded in each class each day with overall prizes for the best performance in each class over the weekend.
Long-time supporters, Jersey Marinas is providing complimentary berthing whilst Condor Ferries is offering discounted fares to those shipping accompanied boats to the event during the week of the Regatta.
The Notice of Race is on
www.jerseyregatta.com
. Entries close on 4
th
September but there is an encouraging ‘early bird’ fee for those entering no later than 21
st
August. For further information, contact:
info@jerseyregatta.com
, or call 00 44 (0)1534 732229
I
mage: Morrina IV, Jai Ho and Kaya II at Jersey Regatta
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12-13 September
With the continued popularity of double handed racing, RORC will again be running the Double Handed National Championship from Cowes.
For 2020 the championship will move to a purely inshore racing format to allow the smaller boats to compete.
As well as the Double Handed Championship, the RORC’s Season Points Championship provides the perfect playground to develop the skills required to sail double handed, with all of the RORC races having double handed divisions and an overall series prize.
Image: Rick Tomlinson/RORC.
Sun Fast 3300 Fastrak XII, sailed by Henry Bomby and Hannah Diamond
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November to March
Lake Windermere is England's largest lake, some twelve miles long, and offers challenging conditions for even the most experienced sailors. The WCA has organised the Windermere Winter Series for more than forty years, and as the Spinlock IRC GBR Inland Championships since 2017. The series runs from early-November to mid-March and the fleet typically numbers around 30 yachts of differing types, with entries from the South Coast, Scotland, Wales, and North East as well as North West England.
The series consists of eight race days a fortnight apart with a break for Christmas and the aim is to complete at least sixteen races in the series. It offers competitive racing and challenging sailing across the winter season in one of the world's most beautiful settings. There's no better place to develop your skill in reading and responding to the wind – ‘
if you can win here you can win anywhere!’
Image: Stephen McGibbon captures a dramatic sky over Windermere
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IRC is proudly sponsored by
Cowes-based Spinlock, an independent company widely acknowledged as the world expert in ropeholding. Spinlock's Deckware Series includes the award winning Deckvest lifejacket harness Other personal equipment widely used at top races and regattas are Spinlock Performance Safety Lines, Mast Pro Harness, ZERO Buoyancy Aid and the award winning lightweight lifejacket, the Deckvest LITE.
www.spinlock.co.uk
Spinlock offers 25% discount on all products to IRC members
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