The event will cost £654 + VAT, plus a second cheque for £100 made out to the John Merricks Sailing Trust.

For that, you get the boat charter (Jeanneau Sun Fast 37), dinner for eight crew on the Tuesday night in Port Solent, crew breakfast and packed lunch, all race organisation, crew bags for each crew member, keeper prizes for the trophy winners, tea & buns in Port Solent and the prizegiving.

In it’s first two years, this event raised £7100 for the John Merricks Sailing Trust, which helps youngsters advance in sailing. The registered charity has awarded over £126,000 in 74 grants to date.

So it’s an event that does some good. And it’s an event that does some good in the industry. There’s the networking aspect of meeting up with people outside the usual run of boat shows. And we hope to have some fun things organised for the Tuesday night at this year’s event.

It’s also an event that introduces newcomers to sailing. Companies like Lewmar enter three boats, each with four experienced crew. The remaining four places are reserved for first-timers from the Lewmar factories to show them what this sailing lark is all about and how winches and things are used in real life.

Email pnash@boatingbusiness.com for an entry form, or go to the event website at marineregatta.com – you’ll see what happened at last year’s event and can download an entry form from there.