Yachting Monthly’s new Sailing Challenge, has invited all RYA affiliated sailing clubs in the UK to enter a crew of eight to race against each other in the Solent for a chance to sup rum punch in the West Indian sunshine.

From Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth Harbour the four heats of twenty boats each will take place over the first two weekends in April and will be sailed in some of Sunsail’s matched fleet of Jeanneau Sunfast 37 yachts. Four crews from each heat will progress to the final of 16 yachts to be held on May 5th.

Racing will take place in the eastern Solent with three or four ’round the cans’ races each day, giving the club crews plenty of work to do to gain an advantage over their equally matched rivals. After each heat, a prizegiving will be held ashore at Gunwharf Quays, and every crew member taking part will receive a memento of the event. The winning crew from the final will each receive a free Sunsail Caribbean holiday and the total prize fund will be worth over ‘10,000.

The entry fee for each club will be ‘765 and that will include a night on board before the racing, the charter of the yacht and the reception after the racing. It will also include entry into the final for those lucky 16 crews contesting the overall winner’s slot and a chance to win a fabulous Caribbean holiday.

Gunwharf Quays has pontoon berthing right at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour, from where the crews will be able to reach the start line easily. Added to that are the extensive facilities ashore with restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment for the crews, their families, friends and supporters.

To enter for the Yachting Monthly Sailing Challenge, call Lesley Thompson at Sunsail on 023 9222 2221. For more information, contact: – Deborah Owen-Ellis Clark, marketing director, Gunwharf Quays Management Ltd. e-mail deborah.oec@gunwharf-quays.com . Tel: 023 9283 6710 or Christopher Clode, PR consultant to Gunwharf Quays Berths. Tel: 01243 431343, e-mail chris.clodepr@ntlworld.com