Friday 30th April to Monday 2nd May 2022 sees the next International Paint Poole Regatta, and I am delighted to welcome the Performance 40 and the Cape 31 Classes for their first visits to our Poole regatta.

We have the RORC IRC Southern Area Championship with up to 3 IRC Classes, the VPRS National Championship with 2 classes, the 2.4mR National Tidal Championship, Race 2 of the J70 Grand Slam Series, Performance 40, Cape 31, HP30, the Quarter Ton Class, plus Sonata, J80, J24, XOD, Flying 15, Shrimper, Redwing and R19.  Altogether over 18 classes – it is going to be a hectic 3 days both on and off the water. Competitors will again be racing for one of the oldest trophies in yacht racing, the coveted Canford Cup dating from 1849.

Our showcase event is one of the highlights of the South Coast calendar, and one not to be missed.  We have some of the best racing to be experienced on the South Coast in the spectacular Poole Bay, with the backdrop of ’Old Harry’ and the Purbeck Hills, and extensive organised après race every evening.

This year our Regatta will have a special focus on ‘youth’ with Trophies introduced to encourage entries that include a youth element in the crew.

I know the Regatta Committee and all the participating sailors are most grateful and indebted for the continued interest and support of our event sponsors, International Paint, Haven Knox-Johnston, Poole Harbour Commissioners, Coleman Marine Insurance, Savills, Salcombe Distilling Co. and Stoneways Marine Insurance.

We are all concerned about our environment and for that reason our regatta is being planned in a socially responsible manner: this means promoting green initiatives to positively influence the environment and benefit the local community.

I am so grateful to the committee who as always have been working tirelessly to put in place the best Poole Regatta ever.

The International Paint Poole Regatta will be the first large event of 2022 and the perfect tune up regatta for what we all hope will be the first full season of racing since 2019.

I look forward to welcoming you all to Poole.

Andrew Pearce – Regatta President