Today is Trafalgar Day.
Next year is 200 years since The Great Sea Battle Where Nelson was Mortally Wounded and Kissed Hardy.
Next year will be 60 years from the initial  conception rather than delivery of the Merlin Class.
Suggestion:
A one off race with a large fleet to mark both occasions probably held at sea (Whitstable?)Or (Weymouth?)Or a Very large inland piece of water. (Grafham?)
I have a Silver Model of a 1963-1968 ish Merlin Rocket that the class can have as a one off trophy for a one off race, find a sponsor or charge a sensible entry fee and cash prizes can be done too. Surplus to the RNLI.
If interested post a response if not I'll give it elsewhere.

or Shoreham with the first mark half way to Trafalgar !!

A great idea. Sounds like one for 'Fixtures Pat'?

We would have to give the trophy/event a name. Any suggestions? 

The Trafalgar Cup/Trophy pehaps?

The "One Shot" Trophy could be a big hit!

Great Idea,

How about having the handicap system applied to attract even more boats of all ages. This would boost the entry and be a great advert for the class as it would showcase not only the development of the boat but also the strong club fleets the class has racing each week throughout the country.
One long race would be great fun, we could even make it a pursuit race.
If all clubs try and enter at least 4 or 5 boats we should have a bumper entry...Lets do it.

I agree, lets make it an event, which includes as many 'old' boats as possible, after all it is a historic event we are celebrating, so lets showcase the history of the class at the same time.

Winston is back!

Long live Winston!

Good idea!! There's a lot going on in and around Portsmouth which of course is where Victory is. There are also a lot of sailing clubs there that probably don't get to see Merlins so we could also use this to market the class a bit? Going to a "Merlin" club or venue wouldn't have this advantage. The other consideration is TV coverage.

Potential sponsor - Lambs Navy Rum?

Might it encourage a few more boats to stay for the Championships if the Trafalgar event was a race (pursuit sounds a great idea) on the Saturday afternoon of the first weekend at Hayling? 
Or alternatively under hangover conditions on the Saturday morn after the Champs?

That's possible but it could make it very tricky for the measuring and weighing of all the boats.
Also some might want to bring their classic ships to the pursuit and their new tubs to the champs.
I think its a brilliant idea but if we are going to do it lets have it as a one off event in its own right.

There are a lot of South Coast based TV companies that like doing stories on sailing... try a club based in the Solent. The problem with Portsmouth is that it's a very busy ferry port and you'd have a long way to sail to a decent sailing area. Try Stokes Bay Sailing Club... it's just around the corner with access directly onto the Solent and just down the road for Meridian TV and BBC South (both Southampton based) It's also good as the are based in a shallower area of the Solent so you won't be cut up by Race Yachts, Container ships and such like. 
I've personally never sailed there but have only ever head good things!

Capsizing on TV?? We would have to be there!

Sounds fab.  What about having out of Hamble River - nice pursuit start off the club line down the river and off into southampton water - just like Nelson's liitle trip!  Also an historic merlin club... and TV.

Trafalgar day next year is on FRIDAY (VICTORY TROPHY) the Monday is the anniversary of the Battle of El Alemain. Is it an even too far to include both over a four day event. One thing a large fllet so OLd Fashioned Olympic courses ie Long first beat,windward mak wing mark reach gybe reach beat windaward mark wing mark run etc over 1.5 mile legs. two rounds.
Slould ther be an over 65's prize (The Silver Zimmer Frame?) or shall we give it to Alan Warren now? Over 60's would let in Pat Blake etc who must be 60 this year round about now! Fastest Lady too of course. The Emma Hamilton Trophy

I like the idea of a pursuit race........ Can I start now

The Trafalgar 200 celebrations are in two parts:   The International Fleet Revue (IFR) and the International Festival Of the Sea (IFOS) are being held in late June/early July, and then there will be dinners and ceremonies on the actual anniversary in October. (See the link below for more info).

Surely the ideal time to have our one-off race with maximum publicity would be either Tuesday 28th June, where we could play amongst all the warships at Spithead, or if people can't get the day off work then the following weekend.

The idea of a special trophy and race is an excellent one, and I for one would love to support it, although unfortunately I may be stuck on one of aforesaid warships... I'll wave to you all anyway!

Yes but it's not Trafalgar I am violently opposed to pre celebrations of any event, we could be at war!!!

If we wanted to get some TV exposure then surely we should have a race inside Portsmouth harbour, there's plenty of room north of the ferry terminals and dockyard, Hardway Sailing Club might help? Agree about pre event celebrations! - Dave C

Why would one want publicity I get enough anyway yacht racing should never be a spectator sport!
Its dull very dull unless you are doing it!
FNP

Stumbled on a possible hurdle to your(our) fun here, In my day job the prospect of a sail through,race,or whatever by the class at the revue was muted. I was imformed that NO unorthorised craft would be allowed (marines in fast ribs,guns at the ready; get my drift!) There will be a 'GOLD' area immediatly outside the massed ships that an organised sail past(no flour bombs!) might be considered.    David Greenaway of Warsash  SC is I believe known to our est fixtures sec, he's on one of the org committees & could pass on further info or QHM portsmouth, WWW and all that & check the links. 
As you probably gather it's the old terrorist/security bit that there looking at, hope this isn't to much of a damper.
                  Barry Watkin   (former forum name Lord Nelson!)
                                          strangly apt!

It was ALWAYS going to be the problem which is why I did not suggest or condone this Terrorism 9-11 etc to one side no Captain of any large vessel is going to take kindly to a large number of idiots in toy boats (Wonderful as the Merlin Rocket is as a yot it's hardly the Ark Royal!)playing around, the wind shadow is also unpredicatable as they swing on their moorings.
Why not do the regatt the weekend BEFORE Hayling Island? At Hayling Island That way people will be encouraged to turn up early the trophies etc might even encourage them to come and stay. If the Dragon Class can raise nearly 300 boats in St Tropez surely a return to 1970 Phwelli Numbers could be contemplated. You might even get a minor Royal to attend.
FNP

Surely the traditional way of marking a major event such as this has been a Tideway race from Putney (Ranelagh) to London Bridge?

Yes but the cannon balls would frighten the public these days!

I'm still not kissing him!

Why not he's armless

"A Nelson" is a 111 think about it One arm, one eye one.....
Any way if the Tidewaty attracts not Putney but Greenwich, the Royal Thames are doing something there too.