Tall Ships Youth Trust Announced As BCW 2021 Charity Partner

British Classic Week has announced the Tall Ships Youth Trust will be the regatta’s official charity partner for 2021. The charity will be integrated into all aspects of the regatta week, from sailing to socialising and fundraising.

Organised by the British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC), the 19th edition of British Classic Week will take place in Cowes from 17th – 24th July 2021.  The regatta comprises a six-race series and a varied social programme, welcoming classic yachts from across the UK, Europe and further afield.  

Credit: Chris Brown

The UK’s oldest and largest sail training charity, the Tall Ships Youth Trust enables young people to fulfil their life potential through adventures at sea.  By bringing together crews of different social backgrounds and taking them on residential sailing voyages, the Tall Ships Youth Trust supports young people aged 12-25 from across the UK.

Commodore of BCYC, Jonathan Dyke, commented, “We have huge respect and admiration for the work carried out by the Tall Ships Youth Trust.  As a charity that prides itself on being a community at sea and on land, founded on friendships and a love of sailing, the Tall Ships Youth Trust is a natural partner for British Classic Week.” 

Jonathan continued, “Young people need our support more than ever right now and as such we are working on ways to fully integrate the charity into British Classic Week.  Fundraising will play a key part, complemented by raising awareness.  We also hope to get some young people out on the water to give them first-hand experience of a world-class regatta.”

Credit: The Tall Ships Youth Trust

Founded in 1956, the Tall Ships Youth Trust has supported over 120,000 young people, the majority of whom are disadvantaged or disabled.  Currently operating with four Challenger yachts and a 55ft ketch, the charity is fundraising to purchase more seagoing capacity. The coronavirus pandemic has hit disadvantaged young people harder than most, so tragically the demand for the charity’s work has dramatically increased, and it needs a bigger vessel, or vessels, to deliver its mission.

James Hudson, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at the Tall Ships Youth Trust, added, “We are thrilled and honoured to be selected as the regatta’s official charity partner for 2021. British Classic Week has a vibrant history and is one of the UK’s most exciting and beautiful sailing events. We look forward to working with the event team to raise funds and generate awareness for our vital work with disadvantaged young people who, post-pandemic, need our services like never before.”

Credit: The Tall Ships Youth Trust

Entry for the 2021 British Classic Week opens in April.  The racing will be organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron and will include a schedule of varied courses, including the popular NAB Tower race.  Criteria for entry is IRC classic yachts of 24ft and over or modern classic, Spirit of Tradition yachts.  Fast-paced racing across different classes will take place in the challenging tidal waters of the Solent against the historic, picturesque backdrop of the Isle of Wight. 

Founded in 2001, the BCYC will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2021 and the club will mark the occasion during British Classic Week next year.

Find out more: https://www.tallships.org

BCYC AGM

Due to Covid restrictions The Annual General Meeting will be replaced by a Zoom meeting.

November 13th @ 18.30

Invitations will be emailed to members shortly

TIME TO GET AFLOAT & CLUB NEWS

The welcome news was announced last week that boatyards, marinas and harbours are now open. This comes as a huge relief and is a tribute to the RYA’s efforts. Frustrated owners can now begin fitting out and making plans to get on the water and to look forward to the joys of life afloat, subject to some restrictions on crew, sleeping on board, and maintaining two meters separation, not a problem for our yachts !

So far, the determined Regatta Committee at the Royal London are persisting with their plans to hold the Cowes Classics Week from July 25 / 31. Cowes Week are also hoping to run the Regatta as scheduled and are in plenary planning sessions, and discussions with Harbour and Local Authorities. As the goalposts are moving faster than Whooper on a beam reach, they may yet be able to run the events. The Cowes spring Classics has been shifted to September and the Hamble Classics is scheduled for late August

We wish them all bureaucratic fair winds.

Despite the cancellation of our Regatta in July, we are looking into cruising options to enable our members to congregate safely and enjoy time together passage making, mooring or anchoring.

We are pleased to announce that Mary Scott-Jackson will be devoting time to revising the Yachts data base and assisting with updating the Club website.

With best wishes 

Rufus          
 On board Venya,   en route Harwich to Aldeburgh Wednesday

Regatta Dates Announced

We are pleased to announce the following British Classic Week Regatta dates for 2021 and 2022.

17th July 2021

16th July 2022

British Classic Week Suspended

It is with regret that we announce that the  British Classic Week has been suspended.

In order to clarify the plans that many members and visitors are making, we have concluded that it would be imprudent to hold the Regatta in July.

If and when, conditions permit, we will consider staging a smaller, less formal event and we will consult with our members to ensure as much opportunity as possible for participation.

We look forward to welcoming you to the  British Classic Week, which  is scheduled to be held in July 2021.

Welcome to the new British Classic Yacht Club Website

This is always an exciting time of year for the BCYC as we plan our events for the forthcoming season. The principal event being the BCYC British Classic Week regatta which this year runs from 18 to 25 July. The challenges post Panerai sponsorship have focussed our minds and we have reviewed every aspect of the Regatta, and I am delighted to be able to confirm that the principal elements of the regatta centred around Cowes Yacht Haven, the marquee lounge, racing provided by the Royal Yacht Squadron, with Mary Scott Jackson and her MSJ Event Team dealing with regatta management will all be in place. Further information on the regatta racing and social programme will be forwarded to previous entrants and further regatta details will appear on the BCYC British Classic week regatta website.

The Committee continues to look at expanding the cruising programme of the club, not just at the regatta, although several exciting initiatives are planned during this event. Plans are also afoot for more extensive regional cruising gatherings and musters.

‘GRP Classics’ continues to be a subject of debate, both within the BCYC and the wider classic yachting community. The quality of classic yachts meeting the pre 1970 criteria is very varied and the premier designs are few in number and thus limit consideration. The committee and wider membership will however continue to review how and where this changing scenario might be configured into a racing programme, although this is a longer term consideration and will doubtless be debated at length.

Since its inception the BCYC has catered for sailing vessels constructed in wood and steel with a design date prior to 1971. We are delighted to announce that we have now extended membership to classic motor yachts and we welcome applications from owners of these vessels. This year there will be a dedicated motor yacht class at the British Classic Week regatta in July with a cruising programme for sail and power.

On behalf of myself, the Flag Officers and committee we wish you fair winds.

Jonathan Dyke
Commodore BCYC