Eligibility
The Classic Channel Regatta is open to classic yachts designed before December 31st 1974 and more recent yachts of classic and traditional design approved by the organisers. Multihulls are not eligible.
A yacht is eligible for the Classic Channel Regatta if it meets one of the following conditions.
1. It was built to an Accepted Design
2. It is a one-off yacht built to a design created before December 31st 1974 and accepted by the organisers
3. It is a ‘modern classic’ yacht designed after 1974 with classic appearance above the waterline and is accepted by the organisers
If your yacht meets condition 3 or you are otherwise unsure about its eligibility please email eligibility@classic-channel-regatta.eu with design details and photos.
Yachts with a Length on Deck (LOD) of less than 7.5m are not normally eligible for the offshore races between Dartmouth, the Channel Islands and Paimpol. For the inshore races at Dartmouth and the Île de Bréhat race, the minimum LOD is 5.4m.
If the organisers consider a yacht has been constructed or modified to give an unfair advantage in racing against other eligible yachts it will be deemed ineligible.
If you consider that your yacht is eligible and you can meet the conditions listed below you can pre-register for the regatta.
Conditions
Eligible yachts must meet a number of conditions in order to race in the Classic Channel Regatta. These are spelt out in detail in the Notice of Race but include the following:
Inshore Races
Yachts and dayboats taking part in inshore races off Dartmouth and Paimpol Île de Bréhat Race must comply with World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (WSOSR) Cat 4.
Offshore Races
Yachts taking part in offshore races between Dartmouth, the Channel Islands and Brittany must comply with World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (WSOSR) Cat 3.
Note that these regulations include the requirements that yachts carry an approved liferaft and operate an AIS transponder (send AND receive).
Sail Numbers
Competitors must have either a valid national sail number or recognised class number and display these numbers on the mainsail and spinnakers. The Notice of Race makes alternative provision for vessels that do not comply with this condition.
Handicaps
The Classic Channel Regatta conducts racing using the JCH handicap system. Each yacht racing in the regatta must obtain a JCH handicap prior to the start of the regatta. This can be obtained online at the above link and is free of charge.
Limits on Entry
The regatta is limited to about 100 boats due to capacity constraints in Paimpol harbour.
The organisers may limit the number of entries of yachts built to a single design.
Classes
The first time a yacht pre-registers for the Classic Channel Regatta she is assigned to a Class. There are currently four classes. Classes 1 & 2 (generally pre-1969 designs) and Classes 3 & 4 (generally post 1968 designs).
There is an explanation of Class Allocation.
Groups
To cater for yachts capable of significantly different speeds Classes 1 & 2 and classes 3 & 4 are split into groups based on their JCH handicap.
Yachts in the same group compete against each other and racing prizes are awarded for each group – both in each of the regatta sections and in the overall results.
In recent years the regatta has been run with four groups. Classes 1 & 2 have been divided into group A (fast) and group B (slower). Classes 3 & 4 have been divided into Group C (fast) and Group D (slower). The allocation of yachts to a group is done (broadly speaking) on the basis of JCH handicap and is decided immediately before the regatta.
You can view the 2022 Racing Results to see how groups work in practice.
