Royal Dart Yacht Club Provident 150 Challenge - Preview
by Jonathan Reynolds 17 Jul 2016 13:30 BST
20-22 August 2016
Royal Dart Yacht Club's Provident 150 Challenge © shutterstock
One of the country's oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the Royal Dart Yacht Club is playing host to the start of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) race for small Sail Training Ships in August and is taking the opportunity to stage the Royal Dart Yacht Club Provident 150 Challenge.
The club has raised funds to sponsor 11 local young people as crew on the traditional gaff-rigged Brixham trawler Provident. The sailing trawler, part of the National Historic Fleet, was built in 1924 and returned to sea in May (2016) after a year of restoration by the Trinity Sailing Foundation.
The ASTO race brings together Sail Training vessels and young people in friendly competition. The event is open to Sail Training vessels under 24m, and other sailing vessels if at least half of the crew are between 12 and 25 years old.
The ASTO Small Ships Races began in 2002 with a passage race from Weymouth to St Malo. This is the first time the event has been held in Dartmouth, an occasion timed to coincide with the Club's anniversary year.
The fleet of 25 vessels between 35ft and 90ft arrives in Dartmouth on August 20, with training and social events the following day before starting the overnight race to Gosport on Monday, August 22, expecting to arrive two days later.
As well as generating funds to support the young sailors, the Royal Dart Yacht Club is looking for sponsors for the event, which provides a magnificent spectacle for visitors to Dartmouth.
Commodore Clive Bennett comments on this aspect of the celebrations: "As a club we are extremely proud of our heritage, but are also constantly keeping an eye on the future by offering support and encouragement to young sailors." He continues: "We're delighted to be providing a sailing challenge to some local young people who may otherwise not get this opportunity and to be hosting this prestigious event. We would like to thank Dolphin Haven Boatyard, Corinium Care Ltd, Sir Dick Oliver, Appeal Home Shading, Nonsuch House, Peter and Camilla Beloe and Paul Barclay Designs and all other Club members who have contributed for their generous sponsorship."
The Royal Dart Yacht Club is known for being family friendly and there is a busy programme of activities and training for juniors from nine to 16 years of age. The club is an RYA Accredited Training Centre, but alongside the formal training younger members can enjoy team racing and the chance to take part in other activities on and around the water.
There is a junior sailing programme at the Royal Dart Yacht Club between April and August every year including a junior sailing week and beginning with a taster day for youngsters to see whether sailing is for them. Parents are also encouraged to get involved.
The Royal Dart Yacht Club Provident 150 Challenge is part of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) Small Ships Race from Dartmouth to Gosport. The fleet arrives in Dartmouth on Saturday, August 20 and departs for Gosport on Monday, August 22 arriving two days later.
For further details visit www.royaldart.co.uk or www.uksailtraining.org.uk.