The RX-8

FOREWORD
26th May - 29st May 2006
The Wight
Diamond Festival...
Summer kicks off with the 11th Wight Diamond Festival! First run
in 1996, the Wight Diamond has established itself as 'don't miss'
event for hundreds of bikers. It's unique combination of superb
riding, events to suit everyone, on
site camping, catering, bar and
entertainment have earned it a
reputation as the best mountain
bikers party on the calendar. Last
years tenth event turned out to be
our biggest Festival yet with some
600 people attending! This year
we'll be upping the ante to make it
bigger and better still!
The Wight Diamond Festival
The weekends events centre on the two day Wight Diamond
Challenge navigator race, which takes place over Saturday and
Sunday. This is the ultimate Navigator event using the whole Island
as it’s course. But if two days of all out competition sounds a little
too serious for you, enter the Wight Diamond Lite instead - the
checkpoints are pubs and cafés and prizes will be awarded for
‘entering into the spirit of the event’!
If navigating
isn't your thing
and you'd rather
just ride, we're
putting together
a choice of
marked out 40k
or 60k Wight
Trail Enduros to
test your legs on
Saturday and
Sunday without
worrying about
the map.
If you've still got
more riding in you, take on the Twin Peaks on Monday with the
chance of winning up to £100 for the fastest rider. Alternatively, the
Monday Chill will offer a more laid back Monday ride before you
head off for your afternoon ferry.
As usual the main events will be complemented by a whole heap of
side-show events and activities going on back at base. The big
marquee will be back, featuring its usual attractions of food stalls,
full bar and excellent live music for Sunday nights prize giving party
(always a lively affair, with music ‘til late and the party going on
into the small hours. For further information call 0118 976 2491 or
www.trailbreak.co.uk
10 THINGS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THE
Royal Yacht Squadron
The Duke of
Edinburgh
was the
Commodore
from 1962-68,
the patron is
Her Majesty the
Queen
since1953, the
Admiral is the
Duke of
Edinburgh.
The original building was
built by Henry V111. In
1539 it was built as a
deterrent to the French,
and proved to be very
successful as the French have
not been in Cowes since
1539.
The first commodore was
the Earl of Yarborough, he
had a yacht called Falcon
which was armed with
cannons. The crew signed a
document to say they can be
treated as if they were in the
Royal Navy. (This meant that
they could be flogged)
The members built yachts
and experimented with
designs which were
useful to the Royal Navy.
Because the squadron was
useful to the navy they were
given the rights to fly the
White Ensign. Other clubs
also had rights, however
when the Navy went over to
the White Ensign it was
agreed that only the
Squadron could fly the White
Ensign.
At the end of the Franco -
Prussian War, Sir John
Burgoyne on his yacht
Gazelle brought the
Empress Eugenie wife of
Napoleon the 3rd, back to the
Royal Yacht Squadron to
escape the mobs in Paris.
The squadron was
challenged by the New
York Yacht Club, which the
squadron accepted the challenge
and this resulted in the start of
the Americas Cup competition.
Sir Thomas Sopwith who
invented the Sopwith
Camel was a member, and
he challenged for the
Americas cup in 1934, and 1937.
Between 1966/67 Sir
Francis Chichester was a
member, he sailed single
handed, non stop, round
the world on Gypsy Moth.This
started the Chichester trophy
which has been won by Ellen
Macarthur, other winners were
Alec Rose and Sir Robin Nox-
Johnston,
The pavilion which was of
great use during the
Americas Cup Jubilee in
2001 was built in 2000 to
celebrate the Millennium.
The yacht harbour
which will be ready by
Easter 2006 is built to
provide mooring for
the small yachts and tenders at
the time of regattas.
Photograph:
Peter Mumford/Beken
8 Island Life - www.islandlifemagazine.net
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