The Royal Yacht Squadron will issue its Preliminary Notice of Regatta this week as preparations get under way for the Club’s Bicentenary Regatta to be held in 2015.

Founded in 1815 the Club will mark its 200 years with an invitational regatta during 25th – 31st July 2015 at its historic home in Cowes with racing on the Solent and a race around the Isle of Wight. The Royal Yacht Squadron has invited 25 clubs from 19 countries to send crews to the event with the option of taking part in a one design regatta with yachts provided by the Organising Authority or participating in IRC racing. Additionally two crews of four aged up to 30 from up to ten of the invited clubs will take part in a J80 team racing competition.

The 2015 Transatlantic Race, organised by the Royal Yacht Squadron, the New York Yacht Club , the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Storm Trysail Club, is expected to attract a good number of entries who will use the race from Newport, RI as a feeder event to the Solent.

The regatta is open to Transatlantic Race participants rated up to IRC 1.850, while larger yachts can take part in the Race Around the Island. Yachts from the invited clubs will race in IRC 1.050 - 1.850 and two boat club teams can be formed in the rating band 1.050 to 1.350.

A very high level of interest has already been shown in the event. A number of J-Class yachts have indicated their interest in taking part in the Bicentenary Regatta, and Nautor’s Swan will be adding the Transatlantic Race to their 2015 ClubSwan calendar with a provisional plan to have a Swan class in the regatta.

The RYS Bicentenary Regatta will be held two weeks before the annual Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week regatta and the Rolex Fastnet Race.

“The invited clubs, all of whom have enjoyed special relationships with the Squadron over the years, have already shown extremely positive interest in the event,” comments Rear Commodore Yachting David Aisher. “With only 150 places available for visiting yachts we expect a strong entry well in advance of the regatta.”

At Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s race days, which are traditionally run by the RYS, will be a celebration of the Bicentenary for Solent Classes with special commemorative prizes to mark the occasion.

Full details will be contained in the Notice of Race to be published along with the entry form in early 2014. The 2015 Bicentenary Regatta pages will be launched on the RYS website www.rys.org.uk shortly.