A 130-foot yacht sailing through the Solent is hardly going to go unnoticed, which makes it all the more surprising that Velsheda thought it could discreetly make its way into Ocean Village this morning without raising a single eyebrow. Having raced against Endeavour in Antigua, Velsheda, along with Endeavour and Shamrock V, is set to dazzle spectators at the America’s Cup Jubilee regatta in Cowes, during the week beginning 18 August. Endeavour will soon also have to consider crossing the pond and begin preparations for the event, which is forecast to be the largest big boat regatta ever to be staged in British waters. For more information about the America’s Cup Jubilee regatta and the history of the J-Class click here.

It has been kept quiet that Velsheda was arriving in Ocean Village today for obvious reasons. Wherever the J-Class go they are surrounded by eager eyes and hungry cameramen, not to mention the inevitable flotilla of pleasure craft. However, Velsheda’s arrival is not the only piece of news to have been jealously guarded. In the week prior to the Jubilee regatta, and running over three days beginning 10 August, all three surviving J-Class will get together for the first time in over 65 years and enjoy one-on-one racing in open waters. Hosted by Lymington Town Sailing Club, the three remaining J-Class will race around a 35-mile course on each of the three days and battle it out to win the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy donated by Shamrock V in honour of her original owner.

Without doubt the America’s Cup Jubilee regatta is going to be the most exciting event of the year and will be hard to beat, but to see the J-Class racing head-to-head, without interference from other boats and in open water, the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy will be without precedent. We will update you with the final details as they are confirmed, and how you can best ensure that you don’t miss out on seeing three Js, with sails full, power through Hurst Narrows, a spectacle that’s not been seen anywhere in the world since the 1930s.