Price
£275
Nights
Three
Age range
16-25
Start port
Portsmouth, UK
End port
Portsmouth, UK
Voyage code
EV067
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
Ever dreamed of racing a yacht? Now you can in an epic race training weekend in the Solent!
You’ll get to experience the thrill of racing a 72ft Challenger yacht, a famous vessel known for sailing around the world (twice!) in the BT Global Challenge. Over the weekend, you’ll dive into exciting sailing drills, sharpen your racing skills, and master everything from helming to trimming the sails.
On Saturday, it’s game on! You’ll put your newfound skills to the test in an adrenaline-pumping race against another crew. The race will kick off with an early mainsail hoist and a standing race start. Expect to tackle various manoeuvres and practice sail trimming throughout the race.
Thursday: Arrival
Join the crew for dinner and enjoy a chilled evening while learning about the vessel’s safety features and getting to know everyone on board. Our TSYT crew will discuss everyone’s goals for the weekend and ascertain your sailing experience.
Friday: Race Prep
Expect an early start as there is a lot to cover before you can race 72ft steel yacht! After breakfast, there will be a full safety briefing, followed by deck preparation where you will familiarise yourself with the layout and sails of a Challenge 72.
You will then head out into the Solent for an afternoon of sailing drills to help you work effectively as a team. Your TSYT crew will guide you through the key racing skills, including how to get a good start, helming, trimming sails for speed, and understanding race tactics.
You will moor for the evening in either Cowes or Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. Over dinner, you can discuss your strategy for race day and check the wind and tide conditions for the morning.
Saturday: Race in the Solent
Saturday will be race day, beginning with an early mainsail hoist race, followed by a ‘Le Mans’ style race start. Expect plenty of manoeuvres and sail trimming throughout the race. After crossing the finish line, you will head to Cowes to secure the boat before enjoying well-deserved showers and dinner.
Sunday: Race Back to Portsmouth
Enjoy a more relaxed start to the day before racing back to Portsmouth for a late lunch. The skippers may test your teamwork skills with headsail changes during the race, and you will have the opportunity to learn more about racing techniques and skills.
There will be a prize-giving where winners will receive TSYT-branded t-shirts and certificates.
This weekend is a great introduction to big boat racing where you will improve your sail racing skills and tackle personal goals. Racing will challenge you to work in a team improving your communication and teamwork abilities. You’ll connect with fellow crew members who share your interests, and chances are, you’ll make some great friends over the weekend.
If you’ve got some experience racing dinghies or small yachts for fun, or if you’ve sailed before and are eager to dive into the exciting world of offshore racing and want to enjoy some friendly competition then this training weekend is perfect for you.
This itinerary and the length/course of the race depend on weather conditions and may be subject to change. Alternative competitive activities may be included in the event of insufficient wind.
All meals are provided, and allergens/dietary requirements can be catered for.
We have bursaries available for this racing weekend to help support anyone who might need a little extra financial support to join. If you need support, we encourage you to apply and see if you qualify.
If you need help with booking online or want to talk about payment plans, please reach out to reservations@tallships.org.
