A mixed fleet of up to 70 yachts is set to cross the line in the Chubb Insurance IT Regatta 2004 on 28/29 June 2004. Open to all comers, the charity event will see crews of all abilities taking on some of the south coast’s best known sailors when the starter’s gun goes off. Amongst the yachts chartered for the race are three IMX-45s, plus a fleet of Sunfast 36’s.

This is the fifth annual IT Regatta, sponsored this year by the Chubb Insurance Company of Europe, which is designed to offer teams from IT companies nationwide the chance to quit their keyboards and take to the water in two days close quarter racing in a large fleet. As well as offering some very competitive yacht racing in the Western Solent, the event aims to raise over £35,000 for the NSPCC, Jubilee Sailing Trust and Dreams Come True.

Regatta organiser Catrina Clarke says that local competition will be strong: “Shaun Fröhlich of the RORC is chairman of the event and he will also be taking part in the racing – there will be a lot of people there looking to win against Shaun! Three other well-known local sailors taking part are Ian Gotts, Paul Blowers and Ian Southworth and there is a strong contingent of Hampshire entries, so there will be some very serious racing.”

Based at Cowes Yacht Marina, the Chubb Insurance IT Regatta attracts both sailors and non-sailors, crewing yachts of all sizes. With practice sessions scheduled for the first day, the Regatta’s two races take place on 29 June 2004, starting at 10.00am.