Parish boaters ‘seas’ the day

Sunday 23 June 2019

Inter-parish rivalry will take to the seas today as boaters from Jersey’s 12 parishes go head to head in the very first round-the-island yacht race.

The day-long race around Jersey will see yachters representing all of Jersey’s parishes compete in a handicap race to win the coveted trophy, which the winner can display in their Parish Hall.

Organisers hope that Parish officials will get involved with today’s race, with any boat carrying a Constable, Deputy of Centenier gaining a more favourable handicap.

Pictured: The race will begin and end at St. Helier.

The inaugural event is the brainchild of the St. Helier Yacht Club’s former Commodore Steve Pearl, who wanted to bring a bit of parish rivalry to a round-island yacht race.

“We already run two or three round-the-Island races each year and it seemed to me that this would be a great way of encouraging inter-parish competition," he explained.

“It should provide a lot of fun and excitement as the round-the-island is a great leveller that does not always favour the fastest yacht.”

Pictured: Inter-parish rivalry will take to the water today with the round-the-island yacht race.

The race will start and finish at St. Helier and the yachts will race in an anti-clockwise direction around Jersey – with the tide assisting them most of the way. 

It will take the yachters along the south coast as far as the Violet Channel Buoy before heading northwards to St. Catherine's, along the north coast to Sorel Point, then south along St. Ouen’s Bay before rounding Corbière to head for the finish line.

Each boat must have a minimum of four crewmembers – all of whom must reside in the Parish they’re representing – and competitors will be split into two classes with the overall winner receiving the brand new trophy at a prize-giving reception at the yacht club this evening.