Islands prepare for yachting event of the year

James Qualtrough | June 11, 2012 | 0 Comments

Around 500 sailing enthusiasts are busy preparing for the biggest race of the year. The Carey Olsen Inter-Island Yacht Race takes place on Saturday 16^th June and organisers expect a fleet of around 90 yachts to take part.

Scheduled to start at 1130 hours on Saturday morning in St Peter Port, the race will run down to Corbiere, on the South West point of Jersey, before the boats follow the Jersey coastline to St Helier and the finish.

After last year, when the race had to be rescheduled due to bad weather, organisers are hoping for conditions to be favourable for racing.

Last year’s race saw Jerseyman David Jones in Jackana follow in his father’s footsteps and take the main honours, with three Guernsey yachts making up the rest of the top four with Martin Ozard finishing second in X-celerator, Aden Clark finishing third in Blue Jade and M. Knowles in fourth in Alectrona. Alex Ohlsson and Neil MacLachlan from Jersey took fifth in Jai Ho.

23 award categories are up for grabs this year including; overall race winner, first bilge keel, first Melges 24, first Beneteau, first quarter tonner, first family boat, first young skipper and the Carey Olsen team trophy.

Aden Clark, commodore of the Guernsey Yacht Club said: “We’re hoping for good conditions for the race this year. As the biggest race in the Channel Islands’ calendar this is the one all the crews are looking forward to and if conditions are favourable we should see some very good racing. ”

Alex Ohlsson, managing partner of Carey Olsen in Jersey said: “This is now our third year as sponsors of this major sailing event and it continues to go from strength to strength and is extremely popular. There are many experienced sailors in the race but it is also very inclusive with people of all ages and abilities taking part, making it a very enjoyable event.”

The Carey Olsen InterIsland Yacht Race starts at 1130 hours on Saturday 16^th June in St Peter Port and finishes in St Helier following which there will be a supper, prize-giving and entertainment in the marquee at the St Helier Yacht Club.

Late entries may still be submitted. Entry forms are available from the Guernsey Yacht Club or St Helier Yacht Club, by email at gyc@cwgsy.net or for download at www.careyolseninterislandyachtrace.com