More than 500 sailors to take part in Jersey race

St Aubins Bay
Image caption,

The Tour des Ports regatta will begin at St Aubin's Bay

  • Published

More than 500 sailors will be taking part in a series of races in Jersey.

The Tour des Ports regatta, which is the largest sailing event in the Channel Islands and Normandy, France, will take place in the island for the first time in more than 40 years.

More than 80 boats began arriving on Friday ahead of the races which will see sailors setting off from St Aubin's Bay and racing to Granville on Sunday at 11:00 BST.

Jeff Speller, Commodore of the St Helier Yacht Club, said it was "all systems go" for the first race.

He said: "It is a great privilege. We have been working hard... it will be very special.

"There's a great array of boats - it's going to be a great spectacle when you see all the boats going out."

Other races starting at Barneville-Carteret, St Peter Port, Dielette, Cherbourg and ending in Saint-Vaast-La-Hogue will take place on Friday 12 July.