PSUK REGATTA

Sunday 18^th - Friday 23^rd May 2025

Racing organised by the Island Sailing Club, Cowes, IOW.

The PSUK Offshore Sailing Championships took place between Monday 19th May and Friday 23rd May 2025. Ten teams took part from nine forces across the country with the welcome return to the regatta of Cleveland.

Teams converged on Hamble Marina during the afternoon of Sunday 18th May to be allocated their Beneteau Oceanis 37’ yachts by Fairview sailing, the teams pairs competition was also drawn.

Monday morning boats made their way out into the Solent for some shakedown practice before the first race round the cans at 14:30hrs. Island Sailing Club were the race organisers with a static start and finish line off Cowes.The wind was very light, an issue we were going to have for most of the week. The race officer sensibly set a short course which all ten teams managed to complete before the wind died and the boats headed to Cowes Yacht Haven, the regatta’s home for the week. The teams attended the Island Sailing Club for a skipper’s briefing, supper and further liquid nourishment.

Tuesday morning there was some breeze and racing got under way on time at 10.05hrs, the breeze started to ease, the lead boat got round the 2nd mark with the fleet spread out behind in the ever-decreasing breeze, the lead boat then drifted backwards back past the 2nd mark. With no sign of the breeze filling in and boats slowly drifting east the race officer abandoned the race. The wind remained elusive until 15:00hrs when the race officer set two very short courses and managed to get two races in.

Wednesday morning, we awoke to flags hanging limply from the marina flag poles. Finally, some breeze appeared after lunch and we were able to complete two races, with the light air’s spinnakers were a definite requirement. During the evening the teams attended the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club for supper, a quiz night and liquid refreshment.

Thursday was the last day of racing and was to be the best, with a steady breeze, that had not been forecast, three full course races were run. Thursday evening and all the crews attended the Island Sailing Club for the presentation dinner. The regatta winner was Metropolitan Police Team B skippered by Nick Mason with just 9 points from 7 counting races, runners up were Hampshire and Isle of Wight skippered by Andrew Buchanan with 19 points. The pairs competition was won by Hampshire and Isle of Wight and West Midlands, the two teams generously donated their winnings to the regatta’s designated charity “Project Fear” which was disabled sailor Jaz Turners attempt to sail non-stop and unsupported around the British Isles which despite many challenges she succeeded in doing. A truly remarkable lady. The regatta was able to send her £420. Well done to all the teams for your contributions.

Thanks go to Fairview Sailing, Cowes Yacht Haven, Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club for their support and hospitality.

Thank you also to Ben Ferris at Island Sailing Club for assisting with the pre regatta notices, hospitality at ISC and ensuring the availability of race officers.

Special thanks to the lead race officer Todd Taylor who was due to have a knee replacement on the Wednesday, when it got cancelled on the morning it was due he made his way to ISC and continued as race officer. His sensible courses enabled us to squeeze in the number of races we achieved.

The regatta was organised and managed by Andrew Buchanan and I with support from all the skippers. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the week, we will try to incorporate the post regatta suggestions into next year’s championships which are being held between Monday 11th and Friday 15th May 2026.

Owen Poplett
Secretary
PSUK Sailing.

PSUK Offshore Championship winners - Met B team