Coutts quarter tonners get set to race the Solent

This Friday, up to 28 ‘Quarter Ton’ class boats will take part in a nine race regatta over three days in Cowes, hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. The event sponsored by Coutts & Co and Red Funnel ferries is open to Quarter Tonners of all generations and racing will take place under IRC in the central Solent from 8-10 June 2007.

The annual regatta has grown from strength to strength over the years as the Quarter Ton Class boats have seen a revival of interest from helmsmen who are searching out the classic yachts to race. This year’s event will also include a number of entrants from France, where the class is also experiencing a strong revival.

Stephen Kemp, private banker at Coutts in Hampshire commented:  “We first became involved with the Quarter Ton Class regatta last year, when we sponsored a beautifully restored yacht called ‘Catch’ which was owned by Darren Marston and went on to world-wide fame with photos of its Chinese jibe off Egypt Point in Cowes. (Photo attached)

“These boats echo the values at the very heart of the Coutts brand, including quality, history and classics and we see this regatta as something of a ‘Goodwood revival’ on water which is why we’re absolutely delighted to be sponsoring this event for a further three years.”

Coutts has committed to a sponsorship deal for three years, which includes funding the launch of a website to support the event, which will be regularly updated with information such as events, restoration projects, boats for sale, how-to, tuning tips and information about the yacht classes.

Last year’s winning boat, Enigma led by Ed Dubois will be back in an attempt to defend their title and Neil Kennefick, Joxer O’Brien and Ron Holland with their yacht ‘Manzanita’ are again travelling across the Irish Sea to compete alongside teams from the UK and France. 

During the 2007 sailing season, Quarter Tonners will take part in many of the regattas around the UK and France, including the ‘Round the Island Race’, ‘Spi Quest’, ‘Skandia Cowes Week’ and the ‘Vice Admiral’s Cup’. In addition two dedicated Quarter Ton events have been organised, one in Benodet in Brittany, France where the fleet will race for the Obelix Trophy at the end of April and the other in Jersey in September.  Details of these events will be published on the website.

For more information about the regatta log on to www.quartertonclass.org.

For further information about the Coutts Quarter Ton Cup 2007 please contact Louise Morton, Club Secretary, Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, The Parade, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7QU, Tel +44 (0)1983 293581, Fax +44(0)1983 294385, e-mail louise@rcyc.co.uk or visit www.quartertonclass.org and www.rcyc.co.uk.

For further information about Coutts please contact Jo Thorne on 0207 957 2650 or Steven Kemp on 01202 366 031.

Notes to Editors

·Coutts is the international private banking arm of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is one of the world's largest banking groups.

·Coutts manages the wealth of 96,000 high net worth clients worldwide through a network of over 40 offices globally.

·The first Coutts regional office to be opened was Eton in 1961. Today, Coutts has regional offices in Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Eton, Guildford, Hampshire, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford and Tunbridge Wells.

·Coutts offers clients a range of products and services covering sophisticated investment products together with expertise in trust and fiduciary services and UK tax and banking services.

·Coutts & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Coutts & Co Registered in England No 36695Registered Office 440 Strand London WC2R 0QS.

·Calls may be recorded.

www.coutts.com