A new event on the RYA Match Racing calendar, the Mermaid Match Racing Championships, will be held off the Sea View Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight on April 24-25 2004. Some of the country’s top-rated helmsmen will be at the event including Mark Campbell-James – winner of the recent Riva del Garda Match Racing Series in Italy. International visitors include Mark Kronning (NZL), Mason Woodworth (USA) and Ben Morrison-Jack (AUS).

Racing will be in Seaview Mermaids, the club’s own highly successful fleet used daily throughout the summer by many different organisations. Events using the Mermaids include the Inter-Services Gold Cup and the Prince Philip Cup. The course will be laid close to the shore and should prove interesting for competitors and spectators alike. Each Mermaid has a different coloured hull and matching spinnakers making them ideal for this type of spectator sport.

The ISAF grade 3 event will consist of a series of round robins on the Saturday and final rounds on the Sunday. The event is supported by Young’s Brewery and Helly-Hansen.

Commenting on the series Mark Campbell-James said: “Match Racing in the Mermaids off Seaview will be both challenging for the competitors and fun for those watching from the shore. The Seaview Mermaid is an ideal one-design for this sort of event. The location and facilities at the Sea View Yacht club are also excellent. We’re looking forward to getting over to the island and competing in this event.”

Further information about the event or about the Seaview Mermaid Charter fleet is available from the Sea View Yacht Club on 01983 613268 or www.svyc.org.uk