10 Jul 2 Successful Regattas!

Over the last few weeks, the Royal Western Race Management and volunteers have been incredibly busy welcoming dinghy fleets to Plymouth for their National Championships.

22nd & 23rd June saw the Devon Yawls compete in their National Championships. We welcomed 18 boats to Queen Anne’s Battery Marina for this event with 6 races over the 2 day period. The event was challenged throughout with changing wind, tide and sea mist which engulfed Plymouth Sound on Sunday. However the weekend also saw some great racing followed by enjoyable social events back at the Club house. We have since received great feedback and discussions are underway about the possbility of securing the Devon Yawls 2026 Nationals.

The following weekend, 28th – 30th June, we also hosted the 4000, D One and ISO Class dinghies for their National Championships, with 26 high performance dinghies taking to the water over this 3 day event. We were blessed with sunshine and racing winds which kept the Race Committee on their toes! Additionally we were faced with the continuous movement of commerical and naval ships over Armed Forces Weekend but we successfully ran 9 races over the 3 day period.

On the Saturday afternoon we were treated to a spectacular view of the Armed Forces Day air show from the club doorstep and in the evening we hosted 48 people for the 4000 Class Annual Dinner. They enjoyed a three-course meal in-house served by our fantastic bar team. This event also concluded with discussions in place to welcome the classes back in 2026 for their European Championships which could see 50 plus dinghies track across Europe to Plymouth Sound.

I am pleased to say, that both of these championships were secured off the back of the Allspars Final Fling 2023. Planning has been in the works for many months now but can only be delivered to such high standards and safety procedures because of the incredible effort of the team that comes together to make it happen. Seen mainly as a yacht club, I am very proud that we continue to draw more attraction for dinghy events across the country and my heartfelt thanks go out to those who continue to support these, and support me as Race Director.

Photo credit to Paul Gibbins Photography

Sam Hannaford

Race Director