Half Ton Classics Cup 2014 - Press Release

The entry list is expanding rapidly for the Half Ton Classics Cup which will be held at Saint Quay Portreiux in Northern Brittany from 7 to 11 July 2014. More than 30 teams are expected to attend, and this 7th edition of the regatta is anticipating a bumper turnout including many of the best known boats and sailors in the class. 

Launched in 2003, the Half Ton Classics Cup led the way for the revival of the IOR Classes and its philosophy has helped to ensure that most boats remain as close to their original designs as possible. This gathering of veteran race boats and veteran sailors brings together a fascinating mix of people and vessels, and whilst the racing is always fiercely competitive the ultimate prize in the competition remains the "Half Ton True Spirit Trophy" which is awarded to the boat and team who best represent the ideals and camaraderie of the class.

Action from the 2011 Half Ton Classics Cup

This year the HTCC regatta will be a true European championship for the small IRC rated boats, with all the top French and UK half tonners on the starting line. Insiders confirm that at least a dozen of them are potential event winners. The event's top boat, France's Brittany Drizzle, is a good example of the modern half tonner: in the same ownership since the early 1980s, and constantly maintained and improved by her meticulous owner, who is not afraid of sharing his knowledge with fellow competitors. With her unrivalled series of class wins, Brittany Drizzle is the record boat at Spi Ouest France regatta, the annual Easter sailing event in Southern Brittany's La-Trinité sur-Mer. More, with Concorde, Superhero and Half Red, the last three half tonners ever built, will be present in St-Quay. Surprising detail: Bernard Fournier Le Ray, owner of Brittany Drizzle, built two of them.

Close racing in the 2013 event

With two weeks to go until the initial entry closing date of 31st May 2014, the Entry List already includes some 25 boats with additional entries being added regularly. Among the well known names competing this year are past HTCC winners General Tapioca, Chimp and Checkmate XV. There will also be several new faces at the event including Peter Morton, better known to many as the man behind the Quarter Ton Cup revival, who will be racing his IRC optimised Half Tonner Swuzzlebubble.

The 2013 champion, Checkmate XV

Alongside the excellent turnout for this event the Half Ton Class Europe is delighted to confirm two new class sponsors for the regatta, Euro Car Parks and Whitfield & Brown. Mr David Cullen, CEO of Euro Car Parks, comments as follows: "We are delighted to be able to support such a fantastic class which, like our own business, has a true spirit of camaraderie and friendship in this growing and vibrant fleet. We wish all competitors a fantastic season and look forward to seeing everyone in Saint Quay Portrieux in July, which promises to be the biggest fleet yet. We would also like to express our thanks to Bert Janssen and Philippe Pilate who behind the scenes put in huge efforts to make the class the success it is!"

Also confirmed as a sponsor for the Half Ton Classics Cup is Whitfield & Brown, a reputable forward thinking construction and development company established in 1972, which provides a reliable professional service to clients in both the public and private sectors.

Some of the fleet during the 2013 Half Ton Classics Cup

The regatta will be hosted by the Sport Nautique de Saint Quay Portrieux in collaboration with the Bruxelles Royal Yacht Club and the Half Ton Class Europe. Registration will open on Sunday 6 July, there will be practice racing on Monday 7 July and Championship racing will take place from Tuesday 8 to Friday 11 July.  The regatta will also feature a fun apres sailing programme to keep the competitors entertained from dawn to dusk and beyond.

Further information, the Notice of Race and Entry Form can all be found at the Half Ton Classics Class website. Members of the press wishing to accredit to attend the event or requiring additional information should contact Half Ton Classics Cup Press Officer Fiona Brown on fiona.brown@fionabrown.com, Tel +44 7711 718470 or Skype fpbrown.

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