There look to be about a couple of hundred yachts heading east from Brighton today, is something big happening?
Sail the 39th Royal Escape Race
The greatest yacht race in Sussex starts on Friday 27 May 2016
The Royal Escape is the largest offshore race on the South Coast outside of the Solent and is held annually with a mixed fleet of monohull yachts starting just off Brighton's Palace Pier, trimming sails out across the channel to Fécamp on the Normandy coast.
It's a distance of 67 nautical miles and we pride ourselves on welcoming everybody from the fastest carbon-rich teams right through to classic yachts and those wanting to adventure across the channel, perhaps for the first time, in supportive company.
The race celebrates the escape across the channel of Charles II in 1651 aboard the coaster 'Suprise', and being a man who held a party in high regard, we think he'd enjoy the spirit of camaraderie and laughter enjoyed by all on this historic event.
The Royal Escape Race is organised by the Sussex Yacht Club from which a team of volunteers contribute energy, ideas and time to deliver you the best possible cross-channel event.