From seasoned sailors to those who have just learnt the ropes, two things that everyone who has sailed along the South Coast agrees on are the unparalleled views of the spectacular coastline and the sense of freedom that you get when you are out at sea. Those taking part in the South Coast Dash aboard the yacht owned by the Grand Hotel Brighton will be combining the experience with a healthy adrenalin rush when the yacht sets out from Brighton Pier and begins its race to Bournemouth before heading back to the city’s balmy waters.

Clocking Up The Nautical Miles
The 140 nautical mile non-stop round trip begins at Brighton Palace Pier and the yacht will then sail to Bournemouth Pier before turning round and heading home to Brighton. As one of the rules of the South Coast Dash race is not to use any motorisation they’ll be hoping that the wind is in their favour as otherwise it could be one frustratingly slow sail although if weather conditions are too unfavourable the yacht will set sail as soon as it can after the scheduled event date.

Corporate Places Available
A limited number of corporate places are on offer so if you fancy taking your place alongside the crew on the Grand Hotel Brighton’s 43 ft yacht this is your opportunity. The corporate places cost £500 per person and include your company logo on the boat and your chosen company representative on the crew. You’ll also be able to attend a Champagne event that will be held at the Grand Hotel Brighton in early September when the competition winners and the amount of money raised for children’s charity, the Variety Club of Great Britain, by the South Coast Dash will be announced.

South Coast Dash Competition
If you can’t stretch to £500 for a place on the yacht you can still help to raise money for charity by purchasing a ticket to guess the amount of time the 140 nautical mile sail will take based on the fact that the boat’s top speed is 7.5 knots and that it will sail through the Needles Channel on the way from Brighton Palace Pier to Bournemouth Pier and will return along the South of the Isle of Wight. All money raised from ticket sales will be donated to the Variety Club of Great Britain.

The South Coast Dash sets sail from Brighton Palace Pier around 8pm on 14th August 2009.

Tickets for the competition to guess the length of time the race will take cost £5. Corporate places on the Grand Hotel Brighton yacht cost £500 per person.

All tickets can be purchased by emailing michael.knox-johnston@grandbrighton.co.uk