THE J/80 World Championship, set to take place in Dartmouth in June, will be sponsored by a major sailing clothing firm following a plea for sponsors in the Dartmouth Chronicle.

SLAM UK has stepped forward to back the regatta, which will take place between June 9 and 15 in the port and will be jointly hosted by the Britannia Yacht Club, the Royal Dart Yacht Club and the J/80 UK Class Association. Both the opening ceremony and the prizegiving for the event will take place at Britannia Royal Naval College. What's more, Chris Ducker, owner of SLAM UK, will also be racing his brand new J/80 at the worlds.

The forthcoming event, and the need for sponsors to back it, was heavily publicised in this newspaper last year.

Mr Ducker said: 'I am delighted to have an opportunity to work with the Key Yachting team and for SLAM to sponsor the 2012 J/80 worlds; this will certainly be a fantastic event on and off the water.

'I look forward enormously to sailing and socialising in the J/80 community throughout the 2012 season.' Entries for the 2012 J/80 World Championship are rolling in at serious pace now.

The online entry system at http://www.j80worlds2012.com">www.j80worlds2012.com is easy to use, the entry fee represents real value for money, according to organiser, and Brittany Ferries has offered discounted pricing for J/80 teams travelling to the UK from the continent.

Becci Eplett from organisers Key Yachting said: 'February may be frosty, but the competition in Dartmouth in June is looking hotter than ever.'