The OTSA has entered this year's Arrow Trophy, which is to be held in Cowes on 1 and 2 October 2022.

As many of you will be aware, the OTSA has been a regular participant in this event, and last year we achieved third place!! (our best result to date)

In the past the event was run using a fleet of 24 boats from Sunsail. In 2019, Sunsail started to replace this fleet with a newer Sunsail 43, but, because of Covid, the fleet was not fully replaced and for 2022 (as for last year) the full Arrow Fleet is made up of 12 Sunsail boats and 12 Fairview boats. We will be sailing in the Sunsail Fleet.

This event is a great opportunity to be involved in racing larger yachts in a tight fleet and our crew is typically made up of a mix of more experienced racing sailors and those for whom this might be their first experience on a larger racing yacht. All are welcome!! The boats are quite powerful, with a large spinnaker and great fun to sail, although design is closer to a fast cruiser than an out and out racing yacht.

The programme is as follows:

• Join boat at Port Solent (Sunsail) by 18.00 Friday 30 September.
• Passage to Cowes
• Crew dinner in Cowes
• Saturday 1 October. Series of fleet races, usually on North side of the Solent
• Formal Arrow dinner for all the crews
• Sunday morning 2 October. Further fleet or match races
• Sunday early afternoon passage to Port Solent. Would expect to leave boat by 16.30.

If you cannot get to Port Solent for 18.00 on Friday, you could join us later that evening at Cowes. The boat can sleep 8 people, but more comfortable accommodation is available with an OT, whose house is close to the Marina in Cowes.

The OTSA has bursaries available to sponsor some "recent" OTs and we warmly encourage them to join us.

If you want more details regarding the Arrow Trophy, please consult their web site: arrowtropy.org.uk

If you are interested in joining the OTSA for this event, please contact the club secretary, Alistair Impey, at otsailing.sec@gmail.com.

I hope to see you there.