Tomorrow morning sees the start of the J-Cup 2007 in Plymouth, where 54 J-Boats do battle for 3 days. The regatta is exclusively for racing yachts of the J-Boats brand, from the 8-metre J/80 Sportsboat to the 20-metre J/65. This year the smallest boats taking part will be a fleet of J/80 Sportsboats, whereas the largest will be the J/133 at just over 13-metres. The J-Cup regatta also incorporates the 2007 UK National Championship for the fleet of J/109s.

The event is being hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club, under the watchful eye of the Club’s Rear ‘Commodore for Sailing’ Chris Arscott, and the Principal Race Officer Mike Pearson. A team of over 40 local volunteers and helpers have also been drafted in to ensure the event runs smoothly. Three days of racing are planned with live music and entertainment every night, culminating in a huge gala dinner and prize-giving ceremony for over 400 people on the final Saturday. Chris Arscott remarked: “This is one of the biggest and most prestigious regattas ever hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club.’

Competitors have travelled across the country to race in the five classes. There are a number of local Plymouth based boats competing, as well as yacht racing experts from foreign climes, and all but two of the boats will be flying the huge asymmetric spinnakers from retractable carbon bowsprits – for which the J-Boats are famous.