Little Britain Challenge Cup Regatta

This year’s Little Britain Challenge Cup was the most successful event since the yachting regatta’s inception in 1988. More competitors than ever before attended the 21st anniversary event, with a total of 249 boats and over 3,000 participants and spectators. A substantial sum for charity was raised at this year’s regatta, taking the overall amount raised since the event began to well over £1 million.

Team spirit and stamina carried the competitors through

“Mitie” was announced as the overall winner of the 21st Little Britain Challenge Cup as well as the First Overall Cruising Yacht. For the full list of results please go to the results section of the official Little Britain Challenge Cup website.

The Little Britain Challenge Cup is the largest annual construction industry yachting regatta in Europe consisting of five races over four days with one on Thursday and two on Friday and Saturday. This year, a new class was introduced for J/109s to replace the Sigma 38. The Royal Yacht Squadron were responsible for organising the racing and setting the courses which gave competitors the added excitement of Squadron line starts.

Speaking of this year’s competition, Race Director Andrew Dellow said: “We had a full range of conditions at this year’s regatta which was a real test of skills over the four day event. As ever, team spirit and stamina carried the competitors through the most testing times!”

Sunshine, light airs, and a spectacular gala dinner brought LBCC 2008 to a close

Later ashore, a glittering gala dinner for 2,000 people that included a Battle of Britain aerial display and an overall prize giving (with awards presented by Olympic Gold Medallists Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson) brought the 21st Anniversary Little Britain Regatta to a sensational conclusion.

Speaking of this year’s event, Chairman Sarah Ashworth said: “An enormous amount of work goes into making Little Britain a success so it’s fantastic that our 21st anniversary event has been our most successful yet. With 249 boats racing in this year’s regatta, we’ve come a long way from the first event in 1988 which involved just three boats!

“I would like to say a huge thank you to all our sponsors and entrants who helped to make this event such a success - we can’t wait to see you all again at the 22nd Little Britain Challenge Cup.”

The beneficiaries of this year’s charitable donations were the Ellen MacArthur Trust, the Jubilee Sailing Trust, the Skandia Team GBR Paralympic Sailing Team and the Cirdan Sailing Trust, as well as local causes including Cowes Sea Cadets, the Island Youth Water Activity Centre, Blind at Sea, Cowes Inshore Lifeboat, and St Johns Ambulance IW.

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