Seldén Half Ton Classics Cup 2026

The race committee has decided not to go ahead with race 4 today so the boats are heading back to harbour. Photos, reports and with luck a little video to follow.

Race 3 was Swuzzzlebubble’s all the way on the water. The breeze was up into the mid teens, the smart money was at the left end of the line and Swuzzlebubble launched herself out of the pack never to look back. They gained distance on every leg and took line honours by a country mile. Behind them came General Tapioca, Sibelius and Brittany Drizzel.

The race committee is setting up for race 4 and they are putting the first mark in right next to there harbour wall so if you are in SQP come down to watch.

After an initial general recall the fleet got away at the second attempt. Brittany Drizzle got a great start to lead the fleet at the first mark. The higher rated Swuzzlebubble was hard on their heels but it wasn’t until the second beat that they finally managed to get past them.

On the line it was Swuzzlebubble closely followed by Brittany Drizzel, the Sibelius third and General Tapioca fourth.

We hope to have corrected results at the link above shortly.

Race 1 turned into a great battle between Swuzzelbubble and Concord who were followed across the line by Brittany Drizzle and Per Elisa.

We have funny spells out here with occasional showers. Breeze is predominantly NW at around 8 knots but varies considerably as the cloud lines come through.

Setting up for race 2 now.

Click here for the updated Half Ton Classics Cup Entry List.

After yesterday’s flooding, when the event marquee ended up looking more like a swimming pool than a bar and had to be closed, the organisers have arranged for a raised floor to be put down in the tent to ensure we don’t have the same problem again.  The staff are hard at work fitting the floor right now and all will be ready for this evening’s post racing drinks and prize giving.

Good morning from Saint-Quay-Portriuex and welcome to our coverage of the first day of racing at the 2014 Half Ton Classics Cup.  The skippers have just attended a briefing and everyone is now heading down to the dock and getting ready to head out to the race course for the first of what is likely to be four races today.

We have a decent breeze here from the north west of around ten knots and the forecast is for it to stay in that direction and gently build through the day up into the mid teens through the day.  Its likely to be overcast for much of the day with the odd shower, but hopefully no heavy rain.

The plan is to get up to four races completed today using a mix of windward/leeward and round the cans inshore courses and our first start is scheduled for 10.00.

For those friends and family spectating in Saint-Quay-Portriuex there will be a live commentary on the South Pier of the Port d’Armor from where you get an excellent view across the main race area.  This afternoon at 14.00 there is also a boat trip on the traditional fishing boat “St Quay” which can be booked via the race desk.

With pre-regatta registration now complete 22 teams have confirmed their entry to the 2014 Half Ton Classics Cup, hosted by the Sport Nautique Saint-Quay-Portrieux (SNSQP). Whilst the entry number might be smaller than in recent years the standard of the fleet is without doubt exceptional and a very closely fought competition is expected.

Bert Janssen, President of the Half Ton Owner’s Association, commented; “The quality of this year’s fleet is quite extraordinary. The boats are looking spectacular and the caliber of the sailors in attendance increases every year. The ongoing success of the Half Ton Classics Cup is something we are extremely proud of and we are delighted that this year we can look forward to such a great competition. We are also delighted to be racing in Saint-Quay-Portrieux and enjoying all the delights that the north coast of Brittany has to offer both afloat and ashore.”

Today the teams spent the day making their final preparations for the regatta including attending a competitors briefing at which François Coudray, Director of SNSQP welcomed the teams and outlined the programme for the week. He then handed over to Laurent Brégeon who presented a technical briefing on the local currents, weather forecasts, navigational hazards such as sandbars and rocks, and explained the various courses to be used during the week.

Formal registration closed at noon today allowing the teams plenty of time for a decent lunch in one of the many great local restaurants, before going afloat mid afternoon for a warm up race at 16.00. Sadly the wind played fast and loose with the fleet as a series of rain showers swept through killing the light breeze. The Race Committee was able to get the race underway, but within a very short time the wind was dropping to sub three knots. The fleet bravely battled on and despite the tricky conditions it soon became clear that it is going to be an extremely close event with plenty of teams in with a good chance of victory. Ultimately the wind died away completely and everyone decided to call it a day.

This evening the crews are enjoying the Opening Ceremony, which is taking place in the club room of the SNSQP. The original plan was to hold the ceremony in the beautifully decorated marque of the Half Ton Classics Cup Regatta Village, however, the weather is definitely not our friend today and a torrential downpour created a lake in the middle of the floor just prior to kick off, so our resourceful organisers quickly transferred everything to higher ground! Despite the grey weather everyone’s mood remained extremely buoyant as Eric Blanchot, President of SNSQP, and Thierry Simelière, Mayor of Saint-Quay-Portrieux welcomed the teams and made a special presentation of a unique glass of friendship commemorating the regatta to every crew member.

Tomorrow’s opening race is scheduled to start at 10.00 and there will be a competitors’ briefing at 08.30 in the regatta village. The forecast is for northwesterly winds of 10-18 knots with overcast skies and a few showers so whilst suntans might not be on the agenda some great racing should be. Up to four races will be sailed tomorrow with a mixture of windward leeward and round the cans racing. The regatta continues until Friday 11 July with racing each day including a 25-mile offshore race on Wednesday. Racing is being run under IRC handicapping to allow for the fact that the regatta incorporates Half Tonners of many different generations (please note this corrects inaccurate information given in yesterday’s press release).

The complete refusal of the wind to cooperate means that the Half Ton Classics Cup warm up race has been abandoned and the boats are on their way home.

Sadly the wind is refusing to return for the Half Ton Classics Cup warm up race and frankly its now more a warm up drift than a race.

Almost 50 minutes in and the last boat is just rounding the first windward mark. The leaders are about half way down the run and boats are pointing at all sorts of angles as they try to find some forward momentum. It looks like a couple of boats are heading back in.