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The Beneteau Cup 2008 - Family, friends and fun all round
Britannia Corporate Events @ Wed Jun 25 09:14:00 +0100 2008
The Beneteau Cup, hosted by Ancasta & Beneteau, is the main social and competitive get-together for Beneteau owners around the country. Britannia Corporate Events are delighted to have been appointed as official regatta organizers, and look forward to being a part of this fantastic event.
The regatta is now open for entries, and will take place in Cowes from 15th – 17th August. It is open to all levels of crew on any yacht manufactured by the prestigious boat builders, Beneteau.
The event offers something for everyone. From highly competitive crews, racing in class A IRC, to crews made up of families and friends, taking part in the treasure hunt and pursuit races. The regatta is great fun on and off the water, and there is racing and partying for all ages!
This year will feature a “Top of the Pops” spectacular themed ball in the Yacht Haven Event’s Centre, with a live band and fancy dress a must! The Friday night entertainment will again be taking place at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club with a delicious buffet supper on the lawn.
Several ‘Bénéteau Cups’ take place around the world, but the UK Cowes event was the very first, is by far the largest, and set to keep growing. To be a part of the fun and enter your yacht, visit www.beneteaucup.co.uk and download the 2008 entry form, or call Britannia on 02380 458900.
VICE ADMIRAL'S CUP
@ Thu May 29 12:20:00 +0100 2008
Now in its fourth year the Vice Admiral’s Cup Regatta, hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Cowes, will take place this coming Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June inclusive. Originally instigated as a fun level racing regatta to fill a gap in the big boat racing calendar; this event’s simple racing format and excellent social programme have proven hugely successful with the competitors and is back by popular demand again this year, and for 2008 expect record entries.
Racing will be run for four classes. The entry list for the 50-52 foot class already features six TP52s and the Farr 52 of Peter Harrison ensuring that the racing in this class is not only exceptionally competitive, but also truly spectacular to watch. This will also be the first time that six TP 52s will be racing together outside the TP circuit. The ever popular 44-46 foot class, which already includes all ten of the UK based Farr 45s and a DK46, will once again provide hot racing action and plenty of surprises.
New to the event is the X-35 One Design Class. This rapidly growing class will be using the event as their Southern Area Championship. Last, but most certainly not least, is the Quarter Ton Class, whose revival continues apace. This year a number of newly renovated boats will be joining the fleet alongside many of the regular faces, all keen to take advantage of this excellent warm up opportunity in preparation for the 2008 Coutts Quarter Ton Cup, also being hosted by the RCYC from 15-18 June.
With the exception of the Quarter Tonners the fleets will level race, retaining the “first past the post” format that has made the Vice Admiral’s Cup so popular. The Quarter Tonners will compete under IRC to cope with the 20 year design span. Racing will take place in the central Solent with the 50-52 and 44-46 foot classes on one course and the X35s and Quarter Tonners on another.
For the third consecutive year we are delighted to be working with event supporters North Sails, Musto, and Boat Sales International. They play a vital role in ensuring the success of the Vice Admiral’s Cup and we are very pleased to be able to welcome them aboard again.
For further information about the 2008 Vice Admiral’s Cup please contact The Secretary, Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, The Parade, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7QU, E-mail Anthony@rcyc.co.uk Tel +44 (0)1983 293581 or visit www.rcyc.co.uk or contact Louise Morton, louisemorton2@aol.com 07769 972979, 01983 295300
For further information about North Sails please visit www.northsails.co.uk, for further information about Musto please visit www.musto.com and for further information about Boat Sales International please visit www.boatsales.co.uk
Bénéteau Cup
@ Tue Aug 21 11:32:00 +0100 2007
Bénéteau Cup, Cowes 16TH-19th August 2007
Family Affair
If you only like your racing fast, furious and ultra-competitive then the Bénéteau Cup is probably not for you. However, events like the Bénéteau Cup have just as important part to play in the sport as the championship or grand prix events.
It is a great nursery for generations of toddlers and teenage sailors to get introduced to keel boat racing. For the seasoned racers, it serves as a reminder, that to truly enjoy sailing, it is important to go to a regatta just for the fun of it, to revitalise your passion for the sport. Some good results thrown in make the event even more satisfying, but to see new or inexperienced sailors getting hooked on the sport is great for the soul.
The UK version of the Bénéteau Cup has been running since 1989 and the organisation of the event is extremely well managed by a good team. The Royal Corinthian offer excellent race management and excellent facilities after racing with food and drink worthy of the finest London restaurants. Bénéteau provide sponsorship and Ancasta’s, the team, to make the regatta run smoothly.
On the water, there are several classes of events from the competitive fleet racing to the less arduous treasure hunt. The standard of sailing is not America’s Cup but that is not the point; I can not remember an event when I have seen so many children and teenagers out in keel boats. The Bénéteau Cup was won by Addiction, a smartly sailed 40.7, the owner must have had four or five children up to claim prizes. Kids love winning prizes, for them it is like an extra birthday, they remember the day, they associate sailing with fun and excitement.
Second overall was Tim Spalding’s 40.7,Loveshack. Overall IRC National Champion and winner of Black Group at Skandia Cowes Week. However, there were only a couple of regular crew on board, there must have been close to ten very young children and teenagers aboard. These young sailors have been in boats since they could walk and probably before, they are the future top yachters, events like the Bénéteau Cup enable them to race keel boats, not as passengers but in real positions around the boat.
Third overall was Stuart Hemingway’s 40.7, Beam, the crew are a blend of family and friends several of which had done little sailing before. However it was fairly obvious that Hayden Jones had a considerable amount of yachting knowledge, at 14 years of age he is an excellent mid-bow with a great future in yachting if he has the commitment. On a personal note, I was part of Stuart Hemingway’s crew and was pushed forward to mast. I can’t remember the last time I never got into the cockpit for any of the race but I thoroughly enjoyed to days with ‘the staff’ forward of the shrouds.
The evening entertainment was extremely well organised by Trish Jenkins of J2PR with Saturday night being a real blast. The Dubarry Spectacular Rumble in the Jungle Ball at Cowes Yacht Haven was great fun; spectacular decoration and atmosphere, great food, and live music by King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys on stage plus DJ. Several hundred crew turned up dressed Jungle stylie with the dance floor awash with big cat leotards and army camouflage. For me the best fancy dress was undoubtedly the crew that re-enacted the Fraser and Ali boxing match including cheerleaders, master of ceremonies and their own boxing ring. One of the crew was holding up part of the ring, dressed in blue with blue face paint. I asked him what he was. He replied; the blue corner!!
The Bénéteau Cup is not a grand prix sailing event but it is a breeding ground for young sailors and an event where seasoned campaigners can go back to there roots, to recharge a love affair with sailing.
Details of the Bénéteau Cup can be found at:http://www.beneteaucup.co.uk
Thanks to Ingrid Abery for use of the pictures;http://www.hotcapers.com
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