By Isle of Wight Observer
This weekend’s Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta promises superb competition, shoreside entertainment, and popping of corks.
Regatta-honed racing classes will once again be competing in the Solent for prizes in all classes, including a Jeroboam of champagne for the overall winner.
The event comes of age this year, celebrating its 18th edition, and it continues to attract the Solent’s best racing fleets, including the seemingly unbeatable Black Group winner of 2024 and 2025, J/109 Jumping Jellyfish.
Owner, David Richards, and his crew, will be back once again, one of a large contingent of J/Boats including the J/105s, J/109s, and J/111s, which are facing other IRC classes in a number of divisions in their group.
Andrew McIrvine, who will be returning in the hope of repeating his 2025 IRC Class One victory in his Ker 39 La Réponse, said: “This regatta is always memorable, we are now regulars and although unlikely to repeat last year’s success we will give it a good try!”
There is a classic element too – a strong class of Contessa 32s, the ever-competitive XODs and Yarmouth’s own YODs will all be fighting for a win in their respective classes, while Charlie Wallrock, and his crew, will be looking to defend his class victories of the past two years, on his elegant modern classic Ranger 9.9 Juvita and repeat his overall.
The weekend starts with a drinks reception for competitors tonight (Friday), with racing tomorrow and Sunday, followed by the prize-giving. Food and drink will be flowing all weekend at the Club’s ground and first floor bars, with wood-fired pizza tomorrow and a hog roast on Sunday.
