Sure sponsorship boosts numbers for Herm Regatta

28 July 2010

This year’s Herm Rowing Regatta will be sponsored for the first time by Sure.

Increased promotion and publicity for the Regatta weekend (13-15 August) has led to boat crews travelling to the islands from Paris, Cherbourg and Jersey to take part.

“It’s great for the sport that we’ve attracted crews from overseas,” said Guernsey Rowing Club captain Matt Toussaint.

“There are lots of events in neighbouring ports which attract a lot of rowers – Cherbourg, Carteret, Gorey, the Sark to Jersey. With the sponsorship we’ve been able to make the Sure Herm Regatta this year’s flagship event in the Guernsey calendar and the interest has been brilliant.

“The Herm Regatta gives us some of the most demanding courses of the season, with strong tides and plenty of rocks offering a real challenge to our visitors and the home boats.”

The three races in the regatta are:

Guernsey to Herm a 6km handicapped race from Havelet Bay to Herm Harbour;

Around Herm a 6km anti-clockwise course starting and finishing in Herm Harbour;

Trident Trophy the 10km “figure of 8” around Jethou and then Herm

All the races offer good opportunities for spectators, either in Herm Harbour or at the north end of Shell Beach, where the boats have to come very close to the beach to avoid the rocks, including the notorious “flat rock” on the north east point of the island.

The Guernsey to Herm race starts at 6.30 on Friday 13 August in Havelet Bay. The Around Herm begins at 10am on Saturday and the Trident Trophy race at 10.30 on Sunday.

Seven records fell during last year’s regatta, which took place in glorious weather conditions, in stark contrast to the middle of the decade, when three consecutive regattas were abandoned due to weather.

Sure Chief Executive Eddie Saints said that the company was pleased to support the Rowing Club event.

“I’m delighted that the regatta has attracted competitors from further afield and I’m sure that this will add to the spirit of friendly competition in Herm.”

The funding provided by the company will also be used to support local boatbuilding this winter for vessels for new crews to use next season.