Diamond Jubilee Regatta plans in full swing

2012 is HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee year and a special one-off sailing regatta is being organised by a number of Isle of Wight clubs and organisations in celebration of the event in June.  The Regatta takes place between Saturday 2nd and Monday 4th June and will incorporate racing for IRC and ISCRS rated boats, including the 'Sail the Wight Race' on Saturday 2nd June. The event will also provide keelboat racing from the Royal Yacht Squadron platform, dinghy racing from Gurnard Sailing Club and invitational match and team racing.

Clubs participating in this unique sailing festival are:
- Royal Yacht Squadron
- Royal Thames Yacht Club
- Royal London Yacht Club
- Royal Victoria Yacht Club
- Royal Corinthian Yacht Club
- Island Sailing Club
- East Cowes Sailing Club
- Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club 
- Gurnard Sailing Club
- Bembridge Sailing Club
- Cowes Town Regatta Committee.

Everyone is working together to pull together a programme that will combine terrific competition afloat with a host of onshore social parties and fun for everyone involved.

In addition to celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the focus of this event is on fundraising for three local charities. The Event Charities that are being supported are the Ocean Youth Trust IOW, Island Youth Water Activities Centre (IYWYC) and the The Earl Mountbatten Hospice.  Everyone signing up for the Regatta is being asked to give generously to these charities when entering and also when attending the fund raising social events taking place.

David Aisher, Rear Commodore Yachting at the Royal Yacht Squadron, is delighted that the RYS is a part of this very special regatta that will combine  some fun, competitive, racing with rather more serious fund raising for the chosen charities of the participating clubs. He commented, “There will be a great atmosphere in Cowes with the sailing and social program providing a rather unique Island event for everyone. We hope to see sailors from far and wide joining in our own special celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.”

All the details of online entry, racing, social events and charities can be accessed on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Regatta website, hosted by SailRacer, at www.qdjregatta.co.uk.

For more information on HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and her visit to Cowes and the Isle of Wight in 2012, see our feature.