The Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, Isle of Wight, has crossed burgees with the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV), Hamburg, to be joint Organising Authority for an important and exciting two-race yachting event in July – the World of TUI Cup.

The World of TUI Cup has resulted from discussions between the two Yacht Clubs regarding staging a race from Cuxhaven to Cowes, primarily for boats that will have participated in the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge that finishes in Hamburg in early July.

Entry criteria has been amended for the DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge to allow boats with LOA’s of 36ft and above to compete. It is therefore anticipated that the World of TUI Cup will also attract sailors from the North Sea Coast region and Scandinavia who are en route south or wish to position their yachts in Cowes in advance of Skandia Cowes Week, starting on Saturday 2 August.

Cuxhaven-CowesThe first race, the World of TUI Cup Race from Cuxhaven to Cowes, starts on Sunday 13th July. Upon arrival in Cowes (expected 17 July), competitors will be hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, commencing with an opening reception on Friday 18 July.

Around the Isle of WightThe World of TUI Cup Around the Isle of Wight Race, is scheduled for Monday 21 July. This race is open only to those boats that have participated in the first race from Cuxhaven. It will start and finish on the historic Royal Yacht Squadron line. Other events during the week include a visit to Portsmouth, an owner’s dinner and final prize-giving reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

John Grandy, Rear Commodore Yachting at the Royal Yacht Squadron, comments on the racing challenges posed by the two events:

“Both races present unique challenges to the racing yachtsman; firstly in racing through the German Bight, the Southern North Sea, the Straits of Dover and the English Channel, and secondly in negotiating the tidal waters around the Isle of Wight.”

World of TUI will present the trophies and prizes for both races at the Royal Yacht Squadron on Wednesday 23 July.

The Notices of Race are available online via the official website www.dcnac.de/wot

Entries for both races close on 1 June.