Westward Cup Cowes 2012

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THE WESTWARD CUP 2012 IS CONFIRMED            

Close racing & challenging courses are on the agenda in June
Cowes, UK: The Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) has confirmed that it has extended invitations to eight of the most beautiful Big Class yachts in the world to come and grace the shores of the Solent and race in the second edition of the Westward Cup regatta, taking place 11-16 June 2012.

Run in association with the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) and the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) with the RYS as the Organising Authority, the Westward Cup was first held in July 2010 and was a tremendous success for everyone taking part. It marked the revival of and interest in Big Class yacht racing in the Solent and around the world.

The Clubs have now extended invitations to the owners of the following yachts to race in June:

Altair                             Cambria

Elena                            Eleonora

Lulworth                        Mariette

Mariquita                       Moonbeam IV

Speaking on behalf of the RYS, David Aisher, Rear Commodore Yachting, commented that after the immense success of the inaugural event in 2010, the organisers are delighted to once again be staging the Westward Cup in Cowes and are hoping for maximum take-up of the invitations to enter the Westward Cup 2012. He said: "The Westward Cup is a unique event for these exquisite racing yachts. Apart from the competitive and challenging racing opportunities that the Solent and adjacent waters can provide, there is the relaxing and welcoming atmosphere of Cowes and the many clubs here, the true 'home of yachting' to many of these yachts. The RYS will provide a base for the owners and their guests, and, by staging the Westward Cup in Cowes, will also be providing the devotees of Big Class yachting a spectacle rarely seen in Solent waters."

The RYS will run the racing along the successful lines of 2010, making maximum use of the waters around the Isle of Wight to ensure the captains and crews enjoy challenging and competitive racing that only these waters can deliver. Racing will be scored under the International IRC Rule.

The RYS may also produce results under a modified CIM rule to enable comparison of results using a rule used at other regattas by these magnificent yachts. It is also the intention to include a race around the Isle of Wight, subject to weather conditions.