A
new regatta has been launched in honour of legendary yacht designer David
Thomas.

This
year sees a David Thomas Regatta bonanza, as in addition to the annual Royal
London Yacht Club-run event on Cowes on 22 June, a new event will be held from
9-11 May on the River Hamble in celebration of Thomas’s 25th-year anniversary
as a Royal Southern Yacht Club member.

Owners of Thomas-designed yachts are
invited to get together, partake in some light-hearted class and handicap
racing, socialise and enjoy a celebratory dinner. Above all, this is an
opportunity to celebrate in the company of this great man, his wife Trudi and
his family.

Sailing
journalist and PBO contributor Peter K Poland, the former managing director of
Hunter Boats, is lined up as a guest speaker and is helping the club to
organise a Sunday sail-past of Thomas-designed yachts.

Email
expressions of interest to Sailing Secretary Natalie Gray, sailing@royal-southern.co.uk,
or visit www.royal-southern.co.uk.

To find out more about the Cowes event at www.rlyc.org.uk/article/sailing/thomas

Picture: David Thomas,his wife Trudi and sons Richard and Peter sailing the family Sonata Piccolo in Cowes Week in late 70s. Credit: Peter Poland