In order to develop the event as something a little bit different, we've done a lot more work this year building this year's regatta as a spectator event. We've had an article in Classic Boats about the club's focus on classic sailing, and we've got a number of features coming out in the local media ahead of the event. We have also secured the services of David Henshall, who writes extensively in the yachting press an all matters classic, as commentator on the Sunday.

We expect this year’s event to be fairly modest but, over the next few years, with the support of as many, we hope to build this event into a public showcase for all classic dinghy classes. With the growing dominance of modern asymmetrics, my personal belief is that promotional initiatives of this sort are essential to keep the older classes and some of the inland clubs that rely on those classes thriving.

For full details just go to the website www.thamessailingclub.co.uk and follow the competitor link from the regatta banner at the top. If you are thinking of coming please let me know as soon as you can - it will help with the commentary prep and the spectator info sheets that we're producing.

Hope to see some more Albs other than mine at the event!