Taking place at The Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight from 10th - 11th June, boat owners with a VPRS rating are invited to take part in an exciting weekend of close competition on the water. As well as two days of racing, sailors and their guests can also enjoy exclusive social events hosted across the event. 

Three shorter races will commence on Saturday 10th June, followed by one long distance course on Sunday 11th. The event prize giving will take place at The Cowes Corinthian with a range of fantastic prizes sponsored by Stoneways Marine and Sandbanks Brewery, allowing time for sailors to return to home ports on Sunday evening. 

Entering the event couldn’t be simpler - anyone wishing to take part in the action is invited to sign up via Stoneways Marine’s website. All participants wishing to enter the VPRS National Championship must submit all entries by Wednesday 31st May at midnight. Participants are encouraged to enter soon to avoid disappointment, as spaces are limited and signups on the day will not be possible. 

The VPRS class not only provides straightforward access to yacht racing but is also centered around socialising with a like-minded community of sailors, with plenty to enjoy during the weekend. 

Yacht crews and their guests are invited to a welcome reception hosted on Friday evening at The Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, followed by a class dinner on Saturday. Further details and timings will be announced in the coming months. 
 
The Racing Schedule 
Two VPRS fleets are set to race for the 2023 VPRS national Championships, to ensure closely fought racing on the water. 

Three short races (ranging from 1 to 1.5 hours per time) will be run on Saturday 10th June, followed by one long distance course on Sunday 11th. On the Sunday race, boats can win double points meaning any less successful sailors on Saturday still have a chance to win. 

Please note, participants are responsible for organising their own berthing in Cowes and are advised to book soon to avoid disappointment and secure the best locations. 

Stoneways Marine, the friendly face of yacht and marine trade insurance established in 2020, are delighted to continue sponsorship of the VPRS class and the 2023 Championship. Proud to deliver the highest levels of service, care and expertise, Stoneways provide high quality marine insurance solutions. They are often able to provide comprehensive cover, even when others cannot. 

Keith Lovett, Managing Director & Senior Underwriter at Stoneways Marine commented: “I couldn’t be more thrilled that Stoneways Marine will once again be supporting the VPRS National Championship for 2023. I would encourage anyone wishing to take part in this summer’s event to complete their entry form as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, as spaces are filling up fast! These races are designed to offer opportunities for every experience level and I invite anyone in the UK and beyond with an interest in sailing to join us for what is bound to be another unmissable weekend.”

About VPRS
For those who have not previously discovered VPRS, it is a straightforward rating system that enables monohull yachts to race fairly against one another. The Velocity Prediction Rating System (VPRS) is rapidly growing in popularity due to its simplicity of using a conventional set of measurements and highly affordable entry cost, with an annual rating certificate costing just £25.00. 

Proven through extensive testing and use over the last 14 years, VPRS offers yacht clubs a single system which is easy to use and provides accurate and reliable ratings across a vast range of yacht types – including sportsboats – based only upon measurement data.

The system is now used across the South Coast of the UK, in parts of Europe and South America, having developed considerably since its initial introduction by Poole Yacht Racing Association in 2010. There is also still time to gain a VPRS rating for the 2023 championship, with further details available via vprs.org. 

To enter the championship, please visit: www.stoneways.co.uk/vprs. For all yacht insurance requirements or queries, contact the Stoneways team on 03333 609 886 or visit stoneways.co.uk.

About Stoneways Marine
Stoneways Marine Insurance can trace its roots back to the early 1980’s. Keith Lovett, a keen dinghy and multihull sailor took on the challenge to help build a yacht insurance account for an insurance broker in his hometown, Poole in Dorset.

Within a few years he was both instrumental in providing the first combined insurance policies for businesses in the marine industry and his sailing exploits had transitioned to larger yachts; becoming a sought-after foredeck crew.

By the early 1990’s another keen yachtsman, Guy Prest with his wife Liz had acquired a specialist equine insurance broker called KBIS. With both Guy and Keith working in the insurance industry and having a common interest in all things maritime, it didn’t take long for their paths to cross, racing against and then with each other in their own yachts with the Poole Yacht Racing Association.

Stoneways Insurance Services had been formed in 2004 and acquired by KBIS in 2017. When Guy’s son Will returned from time at sea in the merchant navy with more affinity to boating than the equestrian world, the idea to transform the company into a service driven leading yacht and marine trade insurance provider was first mooted. In 2020 following Keith’s departure from a worldwide Insurer where he had held the role of a Senior Underwriter, Will and Keith joined forces to form the management team leading Stoneways.

Stoneways offers insurance solutions for mariners from mariners with the highest level of service, care and expertise.

About VPRS
VPRS enables ballasted monohull yachts including sportsboats to race fairly against one another by applying Time Correction Coefficients (TCCs) to elapsed race times.

The TCCs are generated by a Velocity Prediction Program (VPP)—software that calculates a boat’s potential performance in a range of wind conditions. A straightforward set of measurements for each boat configures the operation of the VPP.

Proved through testing and racing over 10 years, VPRS offers yacht clubs a single system which is easy to use—with the precision demanded by serious racers. Annual rating is just £20 for any boat.

Originally developed for PYRA