News - 27/04/16

The Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Thames Yacht Club will each be hosting a new event on the J/70 calendar this summer.

The J/70 Southern Area Championships will take place in Cowes on 21st and 22nd May, under the direction of the Royal Thames YC while the J/70 Summer Championships will be organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron on 9th and 10th July. 

Points from the two new events will count towards the overall J/70 Grand Slam Championship which consists of seven Solent based events through the season, as well as the Nationals in Plymouth. The results from the Nationals and the best four results from the Grand Slam series including these two events will be counted. 

The two new events are open to anyone who has joined the J/70 Class Association, whether they own a boat or have chartered one. Participants who are members of one of the two organising clubs will be able to charter a J/70 from the RYS and RTYC fleets based at Shepards Wharf in Cowes.

Rear Commodore of Yachting for the Royal Yacht Squadron, Jon Perry, said: “On behalf of Cowes, we are looking forward to welcoming a large and highly competitive J/70 fleet. All the yachts competing in the J/70 Summer Championships will be berthed at Shepards Wharf for the duration of the event assuming that we can fit them all in! The class is growing fast.”

Richard Hill, Rear Commodore of Sailing at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, commented: “The Royal Thames Yacht Club is thrilled to be part of the J/70 Grand Slam Championship circuit. This fleet boasts some of the UK’s top sailors including many of our members. These events will provide close and exciting racing in the Solent which we know will test the skippers and their crews.”

The Royal Thames YC will also be hosting May’s Southern Area Championships at Shepards Wharf.

The events are expected to attract up to 40 entries in a class that is rapidly gaining popularity. The powerful little sportsboats are the latest generation of affordable performance boats and plenty of sailing’s top names from world championship level are competing.

The proven format of windward leeward race courses from a committee boat in the Solent will be format of the event with up to four races each day.

For further information and a copy of the Notice of Race please visit:

• Southern Area Championships

• Summer Championships

Photo: J/70s in action at Cowes – Credit Paul Wyeth.