Classic Rum For a Classic Regatta

The Classic Channel Regatta (Le Challenge Classic De La Manche) will take place Friday, July 8 to Sunday, July 17 and Pusser's, the original navy rum and the rum of Great Britain's Royal Navy for 330 years, will be there to power competitors along.

The Classic Channel Regatta is a major new international regatta for classic yachts in the English Channel with racing from Dartmouth in Devon to Perros-Guirec in North Brittany and St Peter Port in Guernsey. It is a series of three linked events and boats can choose to enter either one, two or all three of the events.

The first of these events is the Dartmouth Rally which will be held over the weekend of July 8-10 as a prelude to the start of the Classic Channel Race on the Sunday afternoon. In addition to the boats entering the Classic Channel Race, the Dartmouth Rally which includes the Start Bay Classics Race sponsored by Pusser's Rum, will also welcome smaller classics and working boats which are too small to compete in the Channel Race.

Next up is the Classics Channel Race from Dartmouth to Perros-Guirec in North Brittany. It will start on the afternoon of Sunday July 10 and arrive at Perros on Monday July 11. Perros-Guirec is approximately 95 miles due south of Dartmouth.

The third and last event is the Perros Classic Regatta from Wednesday July 13 to Sunday July 17. This will be the second Perros Classic Regatta (the first was in 2003) and will comprise of a series of three passage races and two short inshore races in Perros Bay. The first passage race is from Perros to St Peter Port, Guernsey, the second is from St Peter Port to Treguier and the third is From Treguier to Perros.

As of June 18, 63 entries were confirmed for the Dartmouth Rally with more expected. For the Channel Race, 53 entries are confirmed, and a further 35 French Boats will be joining in Perros-Guirec for the Perros Classics part of the regatta.

As a gold sponsor of the event, Pusser's Rum is sponsoring the prizes and prizegiving for the Start Bay Classics Race. The Pusser's-powered prizegiving, to be held at the Royal Dart Yacht Club, will get going with the world-famous Pusser's Grog flowing. Lucky race winners will receive prizes from Pusser's ceramic collection. First prizes will be "Nelson's Blood" Flagons with a trophy base, second placers will receive a "Nelson's Blood" hip flask, while third placers will earn a "Nelson's Blood" mini-decanter; a Pusser's Survival Kit goes to last place.

The Classic Channel Regatta is open to classic and traditional yachts and there will be classes for both Gaff rigged and Bermudian yachts and the spirit of the regatta is of 'gentleman's racing'. For any further information on the regatta visit the regatta website at: www.abclassicyachts.org