The Royal Ocean Racing Club's ongoing interest in Ireland continues to grow with rumours that RORC's annual Morgan Cup race will set sail for Ireland from Cowes in 2020.
The London Club lists both of Ireland's top offshore races, the Round Ireland Race and the Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race, on its points Championship programme and in 2016 its inaugural IRC European Championships was staged as part of Cork Week. Now that relationship is set to grow with the arrival of the Cup Race if the unofficial word is correct.
The Morgan Cup is an annual fleet race with a fleet topping 100-boats which regularly sails to France or the Channel Islands each June. It is a 110-mile offshore race that insiders say may now come to Ireland instead. It would be excellent timing for the UK fleet fillip given the important anniversary year for Irish sailing, that includes Royal Cork's 300th anniversary.
Ireland has developed excellent connections with RORC that includes Irish sailors holding high office in the 95-year-old club. RORC Chief Executive Eddie Warden Owen recently competed at Dun Laoghaire Regatta, winning in his class of visiting Seabirds.
In 2014, Michael Boyd of the Royal Irish Yacht Club was elected as its Commodore and now serves as Chairman of RORC's IRC Rating Congress. Boyd himself is a winner of the 2017 edition of the Morgan Cup, as Afloat reported here.
In 2014, Anthony O'Leary's Antix of Royal Cork was named RORC Yacht of the Year. The Cork Harbour sailor also served as the club's Vice Commodore and he was twice winner of RORC's Commodore's Cup.
More than a decade previously, in 2002, Dublin Bay sailor John Bourke was elected RORC Admiral.
It hasn't all been plain sailing between RORC and Irish sailing, however. Also in 2002, there was an aborted attempt to stage the Admiral's Cup on Dublin Bay.
