Return of the One Ton Cup Regatta

The 2016 One Ton Cup Regatta on September 16-18 will mark the return of the championship that has been idle since 2002.

The FAST40+ Class is the first class to have the honour of racing for the trophy, which was made possible with the agreement of the Cercle de la Voile de Paris (the “Paris Yacht Club”) owner of the Cup, the support of Hamble Yacht Services, who will be the presenting partner, and the Royal Southern Yacht Club, who will be hosting the event in The Solent off Southampton, UK.

“In my formative years the One Ton Cup was the cup to win,” remarked Bertie Bicket of Hamble Yacht Services and navigator on Johnny Vincent’s Pace. “It disappeared into the mist and has now come back again. Seeing it now brings back all those memories from racing in my teenage years.”

The One Ton Cup is steeped in yacht racing history, created by the Cercle de la Voile de Paris in 1899. The trophy itself was designed in 1897 by the jeweler Robert Linzeler and was made by Bratiau in 1898. It is made of solid silver and weighs 10 kgs standing at 57cm high and 81cm wide including the handles. The Coupe Internationale du Cercle de la Voile de Paris, its original name, was at the beginning raced between one-tonner dinghis sailing yachts, according to the 1892 French Godinet rule. The Cup was then raced from 1907 to 1962 on International 6 Meter. She was then adapted by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in 1965, and by the IC45 Class in 1999. The One Ton Cup has become one of the holy grail of the sport.

Fourteen high performance FAST40+ racing yachts are expected for the One Ton Cup, flying the flags of England, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and the United States of America. The crew, of which only five can be professionals, come from countries all over the world. Ten races are scheduled over three days, with the courses to be a mixture of windward – leeward and round the buoys, each lasting between 60-90 minutes. The winner will receive the One Ton Cup and be crowned FAST40+ National Champion.

“I have won the Quarter Ton Cup, the Half Ton Cup and have come runner up twice for the One Ton Cup, sailing on Indulgence. So yes, I would like to win it,” Peter Morton, owner and helmsman for Girls on Film.

Fast 40+ class – One Ton Cup

Chris Mansfield, Commodore of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Robert Greenhalgh FAST40+ President, Bertie Bicket of Hamble Yacht Services, Graham Nixon, Rear Commodore Sailing of the Royal Southern Yacht Club.