Four Top Sailing Regattas in British Waters!

Britain has some excellent regattas available for thecomplete novices sailing in the smallest offshore
sailing fraternity. The first and probably most famous iscategories, to very accomplished competitors sailing in
Cowes Week. An amazing week of high quality sailingmaxi-yachts. Sir Edward Heath is among the most
in the Solent waters off the coast of the Isle of Wight.notable of contestants having won the race 4 times!
Cowes Week is a definite highlight in the sailingDespite the record winning time standing at just over 3
calendar and has been running since 1826, making it thehours, most entrants cross the finishing line in late
world's longest running sailing regatta, as well as beingafternoon! The race takes place on the 3rd of June,
one of Britain's biggest annual sporting events. Overbut all entries must be in by May 6th.
8000 competitors race in yachts in 40 classes inThe third regatta is the Winter Hamble Series which
varied 'round-the-cans' courses. Entrants are local,involves 8 competitive races on 'round the cans'
national and international and range from beingcourses on the Solent, and take place from the
complete novices to World and Olympic champions.beginning of October to the early part of December. If
There is a packed racing schedule with just over 30your staff or clients are in need of some team building
races every day for the full 8 days. Aside from thethen these races are the ideal environment for
racing, there is a vibrant social scene that caters fordeveloping that competitive spirit whilst maintaining a
everyone's taste, with a wide variety of excellentsense of fun. Every race goes towards the final result
shops, pubs and cafes to choose from. There is plentyof the series, and the winners get a prize�a
to do day and night, with live music, a magnificentgreat incentive for any team! The experience is
firework display, the Honda Dream Team air displayguaranteed to boost morale and make life in the
and the renowned Guinness and Pimm's tents!workplace a lot more effective.
Our second recommended regatta is the Round theOur last regatta to recommend is Fastnet 2006.
Island Race once described as 'the Grand National ofFastnet Rock is on the Southern tip of Ireland, over
sailing', the annual Round the Island Race is extremely600 miles away, and takes teams up to 5 days battling
popular in the sailing world. The amount of publicity itagainst tricky tides and high winds to get to. The
attracts raises a huge amount of money for its officialcourse starts in the Solent and then heads West
charity: Prostate Research Campaign UK. Take part infollowing the coast to Lands End before heading out
the 50-mile race, sailed anti-clockwise around the Isleto the famous rock and then finishing in Plymouth. The
of Wight, alongside competitors from all around therace was born in 1925 and is now one of the Worlds
world, and make a difference in the medical world bygreatest offshore races with over 200 competitors
raising funds for the fight against prostate cancer. Thetaking part. Join us in this great challenge and we will
race was first started in 1931 with only 25 entries.train your team to a standard capable of winning and
Today there are over 1700 yachts competing for thenothing less!
beautiful Gold Roman Bowl. Entrants range from being