J Class racing for Falmouth in Olympic year 2012 (From Boating Cornwall)

J Class racing for Falmouth in Olympic year 2012

11:00am Saturday 13th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club has been chosen to host the world famous J Class in the port in Olympic year. It will be the first J class regatta in UK waters since 1937 and will be a huge boost to the town’s maritime programme in 2012.

Outline plans for a series of spectacular regattas during the Olympic Year have been put together. It will be the first time in history that more than four of these imposing yachts will race together in a fleet.

Many yachts in the fleet are now preparing to be on the start line for these 2012 events.

The first regatta will be based in Falmouth, hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club.

Races will be held in the bay and along the coastline.

David Pitman said: “The J Class Association chose Falmouth as a UK base for its first 2012 regatta because of the great deep water bay, onshore support services and support from an experienced local Club - the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. The waters around the bay offer the opportunity of great courses for both the competitors and spectators, who can view from the many headlands.

“Spectators in Falmouth will be the first in the UK to view this fleet. Around eight J Class yachts, each 140 feet in length, weighing around 200 tons and with a crew of up to thirty are expecting to be ready and prepared for racing in June 2012. Enthusiasts from around the world will be coming to Falmouth to view the yachts and watch the racing, which will be reported live around the world. This will be a yachting event not to be missed!”

The Falmouth Regatta will be June 27-30.

Peter Collett, Commodore of the RCYC said: “The J class before the war, were the yachts the general public idolised particularly as King George V was a regular competitor in Britannia.

The restoration of the original old J’s and the construction in Europe of new full sized sailing replicas, is the rebirth of a once largely forgotten class. In future years they will make a huge impact in the yachting calendar.

“We should all be particularly proud that Falmouth has been chosen to host the first regatta of J class yachts in UK waters since 1937 and the RCYC will ensure the event benefits the Club, Falmouth, and the wider community in Cornwall”.

Experienced offshore sailor, Peter Visick will be Race Director for the event. “I am delighted to be helping to bring the beautiful J class yachts back to Falmouth for everyone to enjoy,” he said. The picture below (circa 1927) used to hang in my mother’s hallway. It shows, we believe, the “Kings Class”, the forerunner of the J class, racing in Falmouth. Nothing changes in yachting and in order to win, owners were building bigger and better boats and this eventually led to the J Class with tighter class rules.

The J's last raced in Falmouth in 1936.

Falmouth mayor Geoffrey Evans said; “This is a wonderful opportunity for our town to show off its fantastic maritime heritage and facilities.

Richard Gates, Falmouth town manager added: ‘I fully support and endorse the event. We are always keen to bring professional events to the town and this will provide an excellent opportunity for locals and visitors to view these wonderful yachts in action across Falmouth Bay.”