Entry now open, more information here – 2023 Nationals Event Page
The Sonata National Championship 2023 will be held at Parkstone Yacht Club in Poole Harbour between Saturday 9th – Wednesday 13th September 2023.
We’re welcoming and encouraging everyone to join in and plan to make this an inclusive event for all levels of experience with a range of daily prizes and separate trophies for potentially a silver and gold fleet if numbers require it.
Competitors’ entry fee will give temporary membership of Parkstone YC allowing everyone to enjoy its facilities, were planning some great socials and entertainment throughout the four-day event with a welcome dinner on the Saturday evening and a dinner dance on Tuesday evening, with prize giving after the racing each day.
Saturday 9th September will be a reception day with all boats registering on arrival, for those arriving by trailer, the club offers its own lift service from 08.00 until 13.00 and from 15.00 to 16.00 on Saturday, we’ll be asking entrants to book a slot. Alternatively, boats can be launched on Friday so why not arrive early, miss the rush and get some pre Nationals training in.
All boats will be offered berthing within Parkstone Yacht Club marina, berthing fees are included within the event entry fee. There is ample parking at the club for cars and trailers.
On the water three races each day will be held outside the harbour in Poole Bay on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We have an Olympic qualified race team to manage the racing and we will have three ribs in attendance, this will include to escort boats pass the chain ferry at the harbour entrance. We will have the option to use squashed trapezoid variation of windward/ leeward courses, this will spread the fleet and reduce risk of clashes at the busy windward marks. Tides are neap all week so there should be minimal tidal impact on racing.
On the final day, Wednesday, we will race inside Poole Harbour in an area known as the Upper Triangle between Brownsea Island and the Arne Peninsula, two races only, to finish by 13.00 to allow boats to be lifted out and packed up during the afternoon with final prize giving at 16.00.
We are in discussion with several exciting sponsors to offer prizes and financial support that should make this event not one to be missed. Accommodation is plentiful in Poole and Bournemouth during September to suit all budgets, nevertheless, we suggest early booking via AirB&B or the usual agents. The Parkstone Yacht Club website gives information about bed and breakfast venues. The club will serve breakfasts every day.
Entry fee has been provisionally set at £170 per boat. This will include temporary membership of the club, all race fees, berthing in marina for the duration of the event, subsided tickets to the dinner dance on the Tuesday evening and sponsor events. Lift in and lift out fees will be additional, these are set by the club at £42 per lift.
The Notice of Race will be issued in March 2023. We urge early entry to allow us to plan the event to best suit everyone.
We very much look forward to seeing you at Parkstone Yacht Club.
Visit: www.parkstoneyachtclub.com