| Royal Southern Oyster Week is the first Oyster regatta to be run in the UK by a Yacht Club with the active support of Oyster Marine. How did this come about, and how will it be different from Oyster's own events? |
| A few Oyster owners had pencilled in an Oyster Regatta in Cowes in June or July 2010, continuing the bi-annual pattern that had evolved. When we heard there wasn't an event this year, we thought, 'Why don't we organise one', and so with support from the Royal Southern Yacht Club and Oyster Marine we have organised Royal Southern Oyster Week as announced at the Oyster Owners dinner in January. Early feedback suggests that there are many owners now just waiting for the details. |
| The Notice of Race, the Entry Form, and the Berthing and Event Booking Form are all downloadable from the main racing page. |
| If you have previously taken part in an Oyster Regatta, you will recognise a lot of the format, by design. What is different is the scale of the sponsorship and some of the administration, as you won't have Liz Whitman and her colleagues doing all the back up that we have become used to. But Royal Southern Oyster Week will be recognisable as an Oyster style event, with good racing under Oyster Rules and Handicaps, and excellent parties in a variety of venues ashore. The Royal Southern has run many World and National Championships and has the experience and facilities to make the event a great success on and off the water. |
| You will recognise some familiar names among the event's supporters - Dolphin Sails, Lewmar, Pelagos Yachts and Raymarine, and some new ones - MDL Port Hamble, the Royal Solent Yacht Club, Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners, the Royal Air Force Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron, all of whom are providing us with facilities and to whom we are most grateful. |
AFLOAT
We will be racing primarily with Oyster Rules, particularly those affecting starting procedures, and Oyster Handicaps, meticulously calculated by Alan Brook over many Oyster Regattas. We will also follow the practice of asking you to declare your downwind sails on a daily basis |
| The first race day, Tuesday 29 June, has two short races in the Central Solent with a lunch stop at anchor in Osborne Bay. On Wednesday 30 June, we start from 1200 to sail round a few cans on the way to Yarmouth IOW to finish around 1600 at the Royal Solent YC. |
| On Thursday 1 July, we have an early start to catch the last of the ebb from Yarmouth down to the Needles and then Round the Island and back to Hamble. There are times in summer when the wind gives up in the Solent, so to ensure that we all finish in time, this race will be under RSrnYC Cruiser Race Rules which allow for 50% motoring time without penalty. |
| On the final day, 2 July, each entrant will be given a handicapped start time for a pursuit race designed to finish off Cowes at 1200. First to finish is first, in time for a celebration and lunch at the Royal Yacht Squadron. After lunch, it's back to Hamble for the Prize Giving party in the evening at the Royal Southern. |
| The different types of race should give a few variations on the daily leader board, and we thank our supporters for providing the Day Prizes. |
ASHORE
First, the administration:
To take advantage of the special berthing rate of £25 per boat (any size) per night from MDL Port Hamble, you must book in advance though the Club on the event order form. The special rate is available from Sunday 27 June to Friday 2 July inclusive. Yachts over 55' are especially urged to book early as spaces are very limited. See details in the Notice of Race. |
| We know how difficult it is to give crew numbers for functions weeks ahead of the event. So you will see that on the event booking form, we are asking for your best estimate of numbers for each of the functions which will act as an overall guide for those providing each function. We will charge you a single £25 deposit for each crew member on entry and then when you register at the RSrnYC on Monday 28 June, we will ask you for your actual numbers for each event and charge to your Credit Card allowing for the £25 per person deposit. This way, you won't have to tell us every time the numbers change, but providing the numbers don't change a lot, the caterers will be happy. |
| Event clothing may be ordered direct from Printing Crazy in Hamble via their website and by telephone, not through the Club or Oyster. They will apply the event logo to any item feasible in their catalogue, so the choice is yours. |
Now the events:
There is a compulsory Skippers/Owners briefing at the Royal Southern at 1600 on Monday 28 June, so please do ensure that you are represented. |
| That is followed by the Welcome Drinks Party, courtesy of Oyster Marine for which we thank them, and then by a barbecue at the Club, al fresco if possible. As you would expect at an Oyster barbecue, there's steak and seafood as well as a sausage or two. |
| After the two races on Tuesday, results and the day's prizes will be given at the Southern at approximately 1830. After that, there will be a Table d'hôte menu available in the Club, and/or the many hostelries of Hamble await the pleasure of your company. |
| After racing to Yarmouth on Wednesday, the prize giving will be in the Royal Solent Yacht Club, open from 17.45. Wednesday is race day at the Royal Solent and you are welcome to join in with their Sailing Supper, or just round the corner you will find the famous George Hotel and the best food on the Island. Jeremy Powell, Commodore of the Royal Solent, also runs the George and will be pleased to see you at either of these fine establishments! |
| Back at Hamble on Thursday night, the day's prize giving will be next door to the Southern at the RAF Yacht Club. They will provide a buffet supper afterwards. |
| On Friday, the Royal Yacht Squadron will provide a buffet lunch in their Pavilion, and the best view of the Solent to go with it, but don't stay too long as it's the Prize Giving Party and Dinner back at the Royal Southern in the evening from 1900. |
| You can also get breakfast at the Southern every day, but do please book in when you register. |
NOW, ALL WE NEED ARE YOUR ENTRIES!
Royal Southern Oyster Week will be similar to Oyster's own events, but to keep costs down, it is a bit less 'organised' ashore. It will, though, be 'champagne sailing' and we are sure that the winners will do their bit with the champagne ashore as well! |
If you would like to take part or have any questions, please contact
Natalie Gray, RSrnYC Sailing Secretary, at: sailing@royal-southern.co.uk |