The overall winner of the RORC Cervantes Trophy Race after IRC time correction was Gilles Fournier & Corinne Migraine’s J/133 Pintia (FRA) from the Société des Regatés du Havre. This was the fourth occasion that the French team has won the impressive Cervantes Trophy.

“We have a special relationship with this race and it is especially great to win this year as it has been sometime since we achieved that,” commented Pintia’s Gilles Fournier. “Our crew are the same family and friends but over the winter Pintia has been improved by reducing the overall weight and increasing the sail area, especially for downwind. This race has shown that this has proved to be okay! In our class another J/133 Corazon was second, so that proves that under IRC these boats are still very competitive. Pintia was built in 2005 and we can still win races and improve the performance; I don’t intend to buy another boat.”

88 boats started the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Cervantes Trophy Race from the RYS Line Cowes with 86 teams completing the race to Le Havre. Janet Grosvenor was the Race Officer for the start in Cowes and reported that after a 30 minute delay, requested by ABP Southampton for a large cargo ship, the fleet got clear away. The pin end was favourite in a light easterly to north easterly breeze.

The De Graaf family racing Ker 43 Baraka GP (NED) took line honours for the race, won IRC Zero and was second overall. Third overall was Lawrence Herbert’s J/133 Corazon (FRA).

Congratulations to all of the class winners including Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR), Mark Brown’s JPK 1010 Jetpack (GBR), Samuel Duménil’s JPK 960 Casamyas (FRA), Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo (GBR), and Renaud Courbon's Class40 Parfums du Large (FRA).

Results of the 2023 RORC Cervantes Trophy Race are here

Ker 43 Baraka GP Photo: James Tomlinson

Olivier de Graaf, co-skipper of Baraka GP, commented after the race: “It was a great race, we very much enjoyed it. At the start the most important thing was to get out of the Solent cleanly and sail through the fleet, which we manage to do very well in the soft breeze. After passing The Needles, it was key to play the left shift correctly, and sail fast towards Le Havre; I think we managed very well. The team did a great job keeping the boat fast-reaching.”

Nick Martin's Sun Fast 3600 Diablo and Wayne Palmer's J/99 Jam Photo: James Tomlinson

Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo, racing with Cal Finlayson, was the winner of the 31-strong IRC Two-Handed Class. Diablo crossed the finish line just 31 seconds after Rob Craigie’s Sun Fast 3600 Bellino racing with Deb Fish. Diablo was the winner by less than six minutes after IRC time correction. Ian Hoddle’s Sun Fast 3300 Gameon, racing with Ollie Wyatt, won a close battle for third; Gavin Howe’s Sun Fast 3600 Tigris racing was just 61 seconds behind after IRC time correction.

“Cal and I feel absolutely fantastic about this win,” commented Diablo’s Nick Martin. “We got a good clear start and our tactics out of The Solent really paid off. We cut through The Needles after Goose Rock and had a good battle with JAGO and Cora but got through them by St. Cats’. The Channel was a good hard slog and near the end we got an unexpected shift with the wind building. To finish where we did, in this very competitive fleet, has made us absolutely delighted. This win sets us up for a good season.” 

RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole was on duty in Le Havre to welcome the RORC fleet. “The conditions looked a bit soft at the start but the majority of the fleet made breakfast in Le Havre so the Club was happy with that,” commented Steve Cole. “ The RORC held a Zoom weather briefing for all the competitors before the race with Christian Dumard. His prediction for a VMG race came true to a large extent. After leaving the Solent, a good strategy was to tuck into Freshwater Bay out of the worst of the flooding tide and then play the shifts across The Channel. We had some very close finishes over the line and only two retirements for gear failure and time constraints, so that was very satisfactory. The RORC finish team were well looked after by the Société des Regatés du Havre; the hospitality here was great.”

The 2023 RORC Season’s Points Championship continues on Saturday, 13th May with the De Guingand Bowl Race starting from Cowes around marks. 72 boats racing under IRC, Class40 and MOCRA are already entered.

Offshore racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) returns to Europe on the 29th of April with the Cervantes Trophy Race, the traditional opening domestic race of the RORC Season's Points Championship, the world's largest offshore racing series.

Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line in Cowes, boats will race west out of the Solent and then across the English Channel via marks bound for Le Havre. The final race course decision will be made close to the start with a target time of approximately 24 hours.

The imposing Cervantes Trophy will be awarded to the boat with the best corrected time under the IRC Rating Rule. A RORC fleet approaching 100 teams is expected with race crew from Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Spectators can watch the impressive start from the Cowes Parade and the along the shores of the Western Solent. A warm welcome awaits all competitors at the oldest yacht club in France, the Société des Regatés du Havre, established in 1838.

Cervantes Trophy Race Entry List

The Ker 43 Baraka GP, a former Round Ireland Race winner Photo: Rick Tomlinson

IRC Zero & Class40

The Dutch Ker 43 Baraka GP, sailed by the De Graaf family, is the scratch boat for the race under IRC. Co-skippered by Olivier and Dirk De Graaf, Baraka GP is returning to offshore racing after a three year hiatus. Lloyd’s Yacht Club has a long and distinguished history racing with the RORC since 1951. The fifth ‘Lutine’ is an X-55 skippered by James Close. The pocket-rocket in IRC Zero is Mark Emerson’s A13 Phosphorus II which like Baraka is best suited to fast downwind conditions. As the lowest-rated boat in the class, Phosphorous II is given time against their class rivals under IRC. Assuming a 24-hour race, Baraka will give just over two hours to Phosphorous. Renaud and Gilles Courbon will be racing Class40 The 3 Bros. The Courbon family are from Société des Regatés du Havre and, like Baraka GP, will be among the favourites for Line Honours in the Cervantes Trophy Race.

Gilles Fournier & Corinne Migraine’s J/133 Pintia Photo: Paul Wyeth 

IRC One

Jonathan Butler’s Swan 62 Coco de Mer is the scratch boat in IRC One. The lowest rated are a brace of Figaro IIs. Less-Beton 4 will be raced by Miguel Antao & Alexandre Van Cauwenberghe, and Tuff Tuff Tuff raced by Pascal Tuffier. Over 17 different designs will be competing in IRC One. Gilles Fournier & Corinne Migraine’s J/133 Pintia will be racing to their home port, the team of family and friends have won the Cervantes Trophy on three occasions. RORC Treasurer Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 Bulldog, overall class winner for 2022, will be racing to Le Havre with an almost identical IRC rating to Pintia. 2021 class winner and runner up last year, Michael O'Donnell's J/121 Darkwood will also be in action. Seven Beneteau First 40s are expected, including Richard Powell’s Rogan Josh, Ronan Banim’s Galahad of Cowed, Chris Brooks’ Skylander and Sailing Logic’s Merlin of Cowes.

Tim Goodhew & Kelvin Matthews on Sun Fast 3200 Cora Photo: Rick Tomlinson

IRC Two-Handed

Over 30 teams will be racing in IRC Two-Handed, with many renewing their rivalries from last year but also joined by new competition. Last year’s RORC Yacht of the Year, Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada, will not be racing to Le Havre but most of the top contenders from 2022 will be in action, including class winner for the 2022 Cervantes Trophy; Tim Goodhew & Kelvin Matthews on Sun Fast 3200 Cora. Rob Craigie & Feb Fish on Sun Fast 3600 Bellino have won IRC Two-Handed for the RORC Season’s Points Championship three times. Nick Martin & Cal Finlayson racing Sun Fast 3600 Diablo was third in class last year.

Eleven Sun Fast 3300s are expected to be racing double-handed in the Cervantes Trophy Race. Well-known competitors are back RORC racing, including Jim and Ellie Driver on Chilli Pepper, Nigel Colley & Matt Smith on Fastrak XII, and Jon Tyrell’s Wild Pilgrim. New to the Sun Fast 3300 family are Ian Hoddle with Gameon and Janusz Madej’s Polish entry My Way.

Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster Photo: Paul Wyeth

IRC Two

With over 30 entries, IRC Two is the largest class and contains the majority of the IRC Two-Handed entries. Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster returns to the fray with an established full crew after a long winter lay-up. Scarlet Oyster has scored impressive results in the big RORC races for the last ten years but has only won class for the RORC Season’s Points Championship once. Proven fully-crewed winners in the IRC Two include Noel Racine’s JPK 1030 Foggy Dew, and two British Sun Fast 3600s: Trevor Middleton’s Black Sheep and The Army Sailing Association’s Fujitsu British Soldier. Two classic designs are set for a personal duel in the Cervantes Trophy Race. Ben Morris’ 1972 Swan 55 yawl Lulotte, and Andrew Tseng’s 1971 Nicholson 55 Quailo III. The two boats virtually level rate under IRC with Lulotte giving Quailo III just three seconds an hour.

Gavin Howe’s wooden classic Julian Everitt designed Wavetrain Photo: Paul Wyeth

IRC Three

Over 20 teams are expected to be racing in IRC Three, in at least nine different designs of performance cruisers. The top three rated boats under IRC are Mike Moxley’s HOD35 Malice, overall winner of the 2022 Cherbourg Race. Calum McKie’s Grand Soleil 37 Boracic is racing and hails from DOSC in Dubai. Gavin Howe is racing his Sun Fast 3300 Tigris two-handed with Mike Donovan. However, Howe’s wooden classic Julian Everitt-designed Wavetrain is also racing with an under 25 double-handed team of Jaco Ceresole & Heather Quinn. Seven Sun Fast 3200 will be in action, and six J/109s including Mike Yates’ J/109 JAGO, racing double-handed. JAGO made the IRC Three podium in five races in 2022. Two J/99s will both be racing double-handed, Wayne Palmer’s Jam from the Hamble racing with Mark Emons and An Ael 4 from Le Havre, raced by Jerome Baudy & Clement Garitan.

Samuel Dumenil & Antoine Runet JPK 960 Casamyas Photo: Rick Tomlinson

IRC Four

The top rated boats in IRC Four are two JPK 960s from France. Samuel Dumenil & Antoine Runet will race Casamyas which is based in Le Havre and won class in the 2022 Cherbourg Race. Marc Willame’s Elma, also from le Havre, will race double-handed with Antoine Jeu. The lowest-rated boats in the class are two Contessa 32s. Christophe Declercq’s Lecas from Belgium is the lowest-rated boat out of 93 entries under IRC. Lecas’ immediate competition will be Jeremy Swetenham’s Jemmana, based in Lymington. Kirsteen Donaldson’s X-332 Pyxis was third in IRC Four for the 2022 season and is the lowest-rated boat racing in IRC Two-Handed.

The impressive silver Cervantes Trophy was presented to the RORC in 1972 by Bob Watson, who commissioned a series of Sparkman & Stephens yacht designs all called Cervantes. In 1971, the British Prime Minister Ted Heath’s Morning Cloud, Watson’s Cervantes IV, and Arthur Slater’s Prospect of Whitby won the Admiral’s Cup for Great Britain. It was also the first year a woman had been selected for the British Admiral’s Cup Team; Bob Watson's daughter Liz was a regular member of the Cervantes crew.

The Cervantes Trophy Race is part of the 2023 RORC Season's Points Championship, the ten-month series comprises of 15 testing offshore races. Over 600 international teams are expected to compete this year. Every race had its own famous prize for the overall winner after IRC time correction with more coveted trophies for class honours.

Since the 1940s, the Royal Ocean Racing Club has organised a season of multiple races and organised the first RORC Season’s Points Championship in 2000 using the IRC Rating System. The series quickly became, and still is, the largest racing series in the world of offshore racing.

This year's Championship includes the 240-mile Volvo Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race organised by the National Yacht Club, a race that has already attracted over 20 entries for the June 7 start on Dublin Bay.

For 2023, buoyed by the 50th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, also raced in Irish waters, over 600 boats from across the globe are expected to be racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The competition for every race is fierce, and the trophies are part of the history of yachting, many dating back even further than the RORC, which was established in 1925.

Eric de Turckheim's French NMD 54 Teasing Machine Photo: Tim Wright/RORC

The 2023 RORC Season's Points Championship began with the Rolex Middle Sea Race in October 2022, followed by the RORC Transatlantic Race in January 2023 and the RORC Caribbean 600 in February 2023. RORC Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim, racing his NMD 54 Teasing Machine, has two overall victories to lead the 2023 RORC Season’s Points Championship. From April, the focus moves back to Europe. The majority of the 12 remaining races will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, Cowes, IOW.

The 2023 RORC Season Calendar that includes June's 240-mile Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race is here 

Ger O'Rourke's Cookson 50, Chieftain from Limerick  Photo: ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

Since 2000, only one boat 50ft or over has won the RORC Season’s Points Championship; Ger O'Rourke's Cookson 50, Chieftain in 2006. More often than not, a production yacht with a Corinthian Team wins the RORC Season's Points Championship, arguably the most competitive offshore series in the world.

Whilst the Rolex Fastnet Race is the showcase race of the 2023 series, there are 15 testing races that make up the championship. Trying to win the RORC Season's Points Championship is a real challenge, but every race has its own coveted prize for the overall winner under IRC and for class honours. Special prizes for the season include the Somerset Memorial Trophy for RORC Yacht of the Year and The Jazz Trophy for the Overall Winner under IRC of the RORC Season’s Points Championship.

RORC Rear Commodore Richard Palmer, racing JPK 1010 Jangada in IRC Two-Handed, won the 2022 RORC Season’s Points Championship and was RORC Yacht of the Year. Richard had been trying to win the competition since 2018.

Richard Palmer and Rupert Holmes JPK 1010 Jangada Photo: Paul Wyeth/RORC

“There is nothing like time on the water to get to know the race courses, especially the tides and headlands” commented Richard Palmer. “Reliability is also a key factor; good preparation eliminates points of failure. Some races work in your favour and others don’t so the more races that you do the better your five races that count towards the series trophies.” Having won overall last year, Richard Palmer has a different focus for Jangada for 2023. “It is a slightly different emphasis this time,” continued Palmer. “I will be racing two qualifying races and the Rolex Fastnet Race with my daughter Sophie and the IRC Double-Handed Europeans with Rupert Holmes: La Trinité – Cowes and then Cowes – St Malo. I raced with my daughter in the 2000 miles Azores and Back but she hasn’t raced with me since then, so it will be great fun to spend some time with Sophie on a Fastnet Campaign. The IRC Class that Jangada race in has such a great community spirit, especially with the Two-handed teams and the standard is just improving all the time. I am sure it will be a great experience with Rupert in the European Championship followed by a fantastic Rolex Fastnet Race. Sophie and I are both looking forward to the celebrations in Cherbourg.”

JPK 1010 Jangada Photo: Rick Tomlinson/RORC

Jangada will be racing in IRC Two-Handed, double-handed racing with the RORC has seen exponential growth over the last 20 years and that is set to continue. In 2022, 85 teams completed races in the double-handed discipline and this year IRC Two-Handed teams in the RORC Season’s Points Championship are likely to exceed 100.

Tim Goodhew & Kelvin Matthews racing Sun Fast 3200 Cora Photo: Rick Tomlinson/RORC

Second in the 2022 RORC Season’s Points Championship overall was Tim Goodhew & Kelvin Matthews racing Sun Fast 3200 Cora. The young team will be starting off this year’s championship by defending their overall win in the Cervantes Trophy Race. RORC member Tim Goodhew first raced double-handed with his father Nigel, on board Sigma 38 Persephone in the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race. Tim is now serving on the RORC Committee and spoke about Cora’s goals for the season.

“For 2023, Kelvin and I are focussed on IRC 3 and IRC Two-Handed in the RORC Seasons Points,” confirmed Tim Goodhew. “We are also aiming to do the Offshore Double Handed Europeans from La Trinité - Cowes - St Malo, so that will be something new and interesting and it would be amazing to do well. The 50th Rolex Fastnet Race is going to be a huge experience and our final goal is to defend the UK Double-Handed Offshore Series, which we've been fortunate enough to win two times running.”

Jim & Ellie Driver Sun Fast 3300 Chilli Pepper Photo: James Tomlinson/RORC

Third for the 2022 RORC Season was Sun Fast 3300 Chilli Pepper raced two-handed by the father and daughter duo of Ellie and Jim Driver. The 20-year-old RORC Member Ellie Driver was voted Sailor of the Year at the 2022 British Yachting Awards. “Dad and I are really excited for the start of the season, working towards the Rolex Fastnet Race which looks like an epic double handed entry of 100+ boats,” commented Ellie Driver. "I’m looking forward to putting all our learnings from the past two years with the boat into another Fastnet campaign and then improving some more!"

Ino Noir Photo: Carkeek Design Partners

RORC Commodore James Neville has been racing with the RORC for over 30 years and joined the Club after completing the 1993 Fastnet Race. Neville’s former boat, HH42 Ino XXX, has won class in the championship on several occasions and was second overall under IRC for the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race. This year, James Neville will be racing his new Carkeek 45 Ino Noir in IRC Zero for the RORC Season’s Points Championship.

“IRC Zero is looking super competitive this year with boats such as Rán and Teasing Machine at the larger end and Phosphorus II at the other, all getting their miles in prior to the Rolex Fastnet Race,” commented James Neville. “It is going to be an amazing season with classic Channel based races followed by the 50th Fastnet Race. Every race is going to be a real challenge with large fleets making any podium finishes a true test.”

RORC Cowes Clubhouse Photo: Paul Wyeth/RORC

RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole and his team are hard at work preparing and planning logistics for the world’s biggest offshore racing series.

“The RORC Season's Points Championship takes a huge amount of planning, especially as this year, we have several races that will attract well over 200 boats and close to 500 are expected for the Rolex Fastnet Race,” commented Steve Cole. “The Race Management team is just as excited about the championship as the competitors. RORC races have always attracted hi-tech boats, crewed by top professionals, but the vast majority of the sailors are passionate amateurs, and every boat and crew member is treated in the same way. Despite the challenges that the crews take on, all they want to know when they cross the finish line is their result. The new SailRaceHQ system updates as the boats cross the line, so every team knows if they have had a cracking race or there is room for improvement for the next one.”

In excess of 100 boats are expected for the next race in the RORC Season’s Points Championship; The Cervantes Trophy Race starts on 29th of April from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line Cowes, bound for Le Havre, France. 

The RORC Easter Challenge, supported by North Sails featured seven races over three days, with the IRC Class winners announced at the Cowes RORC Clubhouse on Easter Sunday: Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark ‘N’ Stormy, Simon Perry’s Cape 31 Jiraffe, Lance Adams’ Corby 36 Oui, Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo, and John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox.

Full Results link HERE

Thirty-nine teams racing 24 different designs under the IRC Rating Rule entered the RORC Easter Challenge. As well as world-class race management, all of the competitors were offered complimentary on-the-water coaching and after racing video debriefs. Honing the techniques and skills to kick start their 2023 season is the ultimate aim of the RORC training regatta that has been run for nearly 30 years. The RORC Coaching Team led by Mason King was out in force, backed up by drone video from the North Sails Rib.

“We set out to give teams the opportunity to take advantage of the coaching on offer to reach their goals and have fun while they were achieving it,” commented Mason King. “The RORC Race Team laid on excellent racing and the Clubhouse was well attended for the debriefs. Above all, we have had great feedback from the sailors that this has been an extremely useful regatta for their season ahead.”

Ian Atkins' Dark ‘N’ Stormy was up against the De Graaf family’s Ker 43 Baraka for the regatta, but the duel was had on the same race course as the other classes, bringing many more aspects into play.

“This is the first regatta of the season for Dark ‘N’ Stormy, so it’s been really nice to get the team back together at a well-organised regatta,” commented Ian Atkins. “The Dutch team on Baraka pushed us in every race which kept the level of racing up, so Easter has been very good as an opener for the season ahead. The big regattas for us this season will be defending our win in the Round the Island Race and the RORC IRC National Championship.”

Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark ‘N’ Stormy Photo: Paul Wyeth 

Simon Perry’s Cape 31 Jiraffe won the class in the final race after IRC time correction by just four seconds. David Bartholomew’s Tokoloshe 4 was second for the series on countback from Michael Wilson’s Shotgunn.

“We are very pleased and to win was fantastic,” commented Simon Perry who homed in on areas of improvement. “We have made a few changes to the crew set up and they seem to be working. We have much better control of the rig set up and also much better tactics. We will be racing in the Warsash Spring Series but the next big regatta for us will be the RORC Vice Admiral’s Cup. We could see twenty Cape 31s at the Vice Admiral’s Cup, including teams from Ireland and the USA taking on the UK fleet, so it’s going to be a lot tougher!”

Simon Perry's Cape 31 Jiraffe Photo: Paul Wyeth 

Lance Adams’ Corby 33 OUI won five races to win IRC Two. VME Racing’s Mills 39 Team Hero on Zero was second, skippered by James Gair with a crew from Bristol which races Simon Britten’s Half Tonner Hero. “It’s been a great weekend very enjoyable,” commented Simon. “I set out to improve my driving skills and the crew have been working very well together on boat handling. The big regatta for us this year will be Falmouth Week and the RORC Easter Challenge has been excellent preparation for the sailing ahead, as well as a lot of fun.”

Lance Adams’ Corby 33 OUI won five races to win IRC Two Photo: Paul Wyeth 

RORC Treasurer, Derek Shakespeare racing his J/122 Bulldog was third in IRC Two. “Bulldog will be racing in the Rolex Fastnet Race this summer and our first offshore race will be the Cervantes Trophy Race at the end of April,” commented Derek Shakespeare who will also be defending Bulldog’s win as IRC One champion for 2022. “The RORC Easter Challenge serves as a good test for our boat handling and also our equipment for the offshore season ahead.”

 Derek Shakespeare's J/122 Bulldog Photo: Paul Wyeth

IRC Three was won by Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo, which he normally races offshore and Two-Handed. In second place was the British Army Sailing Association’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier, skippered by Henry Foster. In third was Lucian Stone’s Vendetta which was the top Fareast 28 for the regatta. 

“Having four on board allowed us to handle the boat better in manoeuvres and that has been a very good way to develop techniques for Two-Handed racing,” commented Diablo’s Nick Martin. “This has been a fabulous event; great organisation, plus the coaching and debriefs were superb. A big thank you to the RORC Race Team and the volunteers.” 

IRC Three was won by Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo Photo: Paul Wyeth

British Army Sailing Association’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier, skippered by Henry Foster Photo: Paul Wyeth 

In IRC Four J Boats claimed all three podium positions for the regatta. John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox, a former J/109 National Champion won the class. Rob Cotterill’s J/109 Mojo Risin’ scored three race wins to finish second in class and Ross Bowdler’s J/80 Justify was third.

 John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox and Rob Cotterill’s J/109 Mojo Risin Photo: Paul Wyeth

The RORC Cowes Clubhouse was packed with sailors for the Prize Giving. RORC Commodore James Neville presented IRC Class winners with engraved RORC decanters and performed the customary Easter Egg toss!

RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole summed up the RORC Easter Challenge: “The Club are really pleased with the regatta; the coaches and North Sails did a really great job and we were lucky to have excellent weather to give the boats fantastic racing. It looked like people were learning; we could see the improvements. I hope we have helped all of the teams, but especially those in IRC Three and Four; this was part of the mission for this regatta. They are the backbone of the RORC and helping them is good for the RORC in the long run.”

The second day of the RORC Easter Challenge on the Solent, supported by North Sails, featured three races for all IRC Classes.

With building pressure during the day, the RORC fleet enjoyed exhilarating racing in the Solent.

The RORC Race Team produced a variety of courses, including windward-leeward, round-the-cans races and the rarity of reaching starts.

Today’s race winners were: Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark ‘N’ Stormy, Simon Perry’s Cape 31 Jiraffe, Michael Wilson’s Shotgunn, Lance Adams’ Corby 36 Oui, Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo, Rob Cotterill's J/109 Mojo Risin’, James Gair’s Team Hero on Zero, and Lucian Stone’s Fareast 28 Vendetta.

Full results link here

A gentle start to day one of the RORC Easter Challenge had the RORC fleet basking in the spring sunshine and super-light conditions. The first day of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s training regatta featured an hour of practice starts followed by Race One for all classes. Congratulations to today’s class winners: Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark ‘N’ Stormy, Dave Bartholomew’s Cape31 Tokoloshe 4, Ed Bell’s JPK 1180 Dawn Treader, Alain Waha & Matthew Waite’s Fareast 28 Go West and Ross Bowdler’s J/80 Justify.

Full Results link HERE

“It really was borderline to run the race today with such light air, but this fleet came here to train for the season ahead and the most important goal for the race team was to get them sailing,” commented RORC Race Officer Stuart Childerley. “The race started at high tide with a short course off Lee-on-Solent where the best breeze was available. During the race, the competitors had to factor in the change in the tide and the wind direction.” 

Out on the water, the RORC Coaching Team led by Mason King and the North Sails RIB with Neil Mackley on board, kept a watchful eye on all of the boats. Offering advice, as well as filming the boat set up and manoeuvres.

On-the-water coaching over the three-day RORC Easter Challenge is led by RYA Keelboat Coach Mason King and his team Photo: Paul Wyeth

As the first RORC regatta in the Solent since last summer, there was a great atmosphere at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse after racing. Crews enjoyed cold drinks at the bar, swapping stories about their plans for the season ahead. The RORC Easter Challenge Debrief was extremely well attended. An hour-long video analysis by experts pinpointed areas for the boats to improve upon, as well as a bounty of tips and tricks to improve performance. 

“Getting trimmers off the boat and into the coach rib to see their set-up is really valuable,” commented Mason King. “Looking at the sail trim from astern gives the trimmer a better view of how the sail looks and how the shape can be improved. We had four trimmers come onto the coach boats today and they all learnt a lot from the exercise.”

“I think there is a real tendency to inhaul too much when it goes super-light,” commented North Sail’s Ian Walker, who was racing on Dark ‘N’ Stormy. “In light airs, the wind has no energy, the air cannot get on the front of the sail unless it can get off the back of the sail, that’s why you need twist. Until you get up to hull speed you must have twist to get the flow over the sail. As soon as you get moving then you can start to sheet on.” 

Cape 31s at the RORC Easter Challenge Photo: Paul Wyeth

“Calculating time over distance is something that everyone needs to work on whether you are a top professional or an amateur, and that is not just about starting. Knowing when the right time is to drop your spinnaker approaching the bottom mark, for example,” commented North Sails’ Neil Mackley." 

“In light airs, sailing in clear air is very important. In four knots of breeze, an extra knot is 20% more wind,” commented Jack Fenwick. “Today, with a short racecourse and plenty of traffic, clear air is probably more important than wind and tidal considerations."

The RORC Cowes Clubhouse was packed with sailors after the debrief and a Crew Buffet was on the menu. Good Friday was Curry Night with teams tucking into Chicken Jalfrezi, Sri Lankan vegetable curry, accompanied by poppadoms and naan bred. The RORC Easter Challenge continues tomorrow, Saturday 8th April with more breeze forecast with a full day of racing scheduled 

Over 200 sailors are expected for the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Easter Challenge on the Solent this weekend.

Three days of racing are organised in The Solent from Easter Friday to Easter Sunday.

For over 20 years, the RORC has held a training regatta over the Easter Weekend. World Sailing Rules on outside assistance are relaxed, so for no additional cost to the teams, hand-picked coaches can provide pin-point assistance to get crews of any level up to speed.

Racing will be in IRC Rated Classes for Grand Prix racers, pocket rocket Cape 31s and HP30 Classes, plus a huge range of performance racer-cruisers. While the regatta attracts some professional teams, the vast majority are passionate corinthian crews looking to sharpen their skills. The RORC Easter Challenge has the traditional prizes of Easter Eggs, but, says RORC, the real winners are all the sailors, improving every aspect of yacht racing ability at a safe and friendly regatta.

As with all RORC racing, the RORC Cowes Clubhouse is open to all competitors.

Entry is open for the RORC Easter Challenge supported by North Sails. From 7th-9th April, the first UK regatta of the Royal Ocean Racing Club 2023 season has up to three inshore races per day scheduled over the Easter Bank Holiday. Complimentary on-the-water coaching is led by RYA Keelboat Coach Mason King and his team. Racing is followed by comprehensive video debriefs at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse. With vital pre-season training and fine-tuning, the RORC Easter Challenge is ideal for any team to kick-start their campaign.

“Race starts are always important, so before the first warning signal on Friday, we will run numerous practice starts,” confirmed RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole. “The RORC Easter Challenge will have a mixture of windward-leeward and round the cans races. A selection of courses and wind angles presents a perfect opportunity to improve your racing. The regatta is suitable for teams with an offshore programme and inshore. The racing will be competitive, but the real goal here is to tune up for the coming season. The courses will be designed to hone boat handling, tactics and navigation. All competitors will get a warm welcome at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse.” 

RORC Easter Challenge - Up to three inshore races per day in the first UK regatta of the RORC 2023 season Photo: Paul Wyeth

RORC Easter Challenge - Coaching on and off the water Photo: Paul Wyeth

With the relaxation of RRS41, the highlight of the event is the availability of experienced coaches on the water to assist teams with getting back up to speed. Mason King’s team will be supplemented by North Sails experts and a drone pilot in a support RIB. Many of the teams will be racing with North Sails experts, including Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark ‘N’ Stormy which will have North Sails UK General Manager Ian Walker calling tactics. 

"The RORC Easter Challenge is the perfect way to get the season started," commented Ian Walker. "The North Sails team will be out on the water in force and on hand ashore to help with the debriefing. We look forward to helping everyone to blow away the cobwebs, learn some new tricks and get their season up and running in the best possible way."

The RORC Easter Challenge is an open regatta and the RORC Clubhouse debriefs are a great way to rub shoulders with the competition. The RORC Restaurant and Bar will be open to all competitors. Prizes for the RORC Easter Challenge are Easter Eggs, but the real success for every team will be improving performance for the season ahead.

For more information about the RORC Easter Challenge and entries click here

The RORC Nelson’s Cup Series ahead of the Caribbean 600 Race got underway on time in spectacular conditions off the south coast of Antigua. With tropical heat, 16 knots from the east and a significant swell, the south coast of Antigua produced awe-inspiring racing. 

In IRC Two, Antiguan Farr 65 Spirit of Juno skippered by Dublin Bay's David Hanks scored a memorable victory in the first race, taking class line honours and the win after IRC time correction by just over two minutes from Marie Tabarly’s 73ft ketch Pen Duick VI (FRA). Szymon Kuczynski’s Figaro Hultaj (POL) was third. 

In the second race, Spirit of Juno scored their second bullet of the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series, with Pen Duick VI second by just three minutes after IRC time correction.

“We have a charter crew on board, with myself and Verity Rouse as permanent crew, and it was a no-brainer to enter the RORC Nelson’s Cup,” commented Spirit of Juno skipper David Hanks. “When the race series was announced, we were delighted because it was the best way to train for the RORC Caribbean 600; train hard - fight easy. Today, we had two starts, loads of hoists and drops and mark roundings, which was a great way to get the teamwork going for the big race.”

Spirit of Juno skipper David Hanks invited Emily Gaillard on board who is just 15 and the Antiguan Optimist champion. “Emily was a natural on the helm and fitted straight in with the team. We are looking forward to having Emily on board Spirit of Juno for the rest of the series including the Caribbean 600,” commented Hanks. 

OnDeck’s Farr 65 Spirit of Juno skippered by Davis Hanks of Ireland Photo Tim Wright

The daily prize giving for the RORC Nelson’s Cup Series was held at the Antigua Yacht Club with English Harbour Rum honouring the lucky winners and the amazing volunteers from the Antigua sailing community, plus Axxess Marine providing complimentary cold beers.

A flotilla of spectator boats and a huge crowd in Marina Lanzarote witnessed the start of the 2023 RORC Transatlantic Race on Sunday, 9th January. In glorious conditions, the fleet got away to a clean downwind start, a mile from Marina Lanzarote. The RORC fleet were in full view of spectators along the seafront of Arrecife, Lanzarote’s capital. As the boats rounded the turning mark outside Puerto Calero, well-wishes shouted encouragement from a pack of ribs and an armada of cruising boats.

After passing under the volcanic mountains of the Los Ajaches National Park, the fleet raced through the narrow Strait of Bocaina, which divides Lanzarote from Fuerteventura. The RORC fleet must leave Tenerife to port, before heading into the wide expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. The next mark of the course is 3,000 miles away across the Atlantic at Glover Island.

Frank Slootman’s MOD70 Snowflake (USA), skippered by Gavin Brady Photo: James Mitchell

Vincent Willemart’s TS42 Banzai (BEL) Photo: James Tomlinson

Multihull Class

Three powerful 70ft trimarans approached the line on port, but undoubtedly the smallest multihull in the race won the start. Vincent Willemart’s TS42 Banzai (BEL) approached the line on starboard, and with right of way, the trimarans respectfully gave way. Frank Slootman’s MOD70 Snowflake (USA), skippered by Gavin Brady, and MOD70 Zoulou (FRA), with Erik Maris at the helm, soon powered up. However, Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi70 (ITA) was not the quickest in light airs, with its four foils more a hindrance in low wind speed. At 17:15 UTC Snowflake was achieving 18 knots of boat speed, a mile ahead of Zoulou, with Maserati four miles astern.

The largest boat in the fleet - Swan 115 Jasi Photo: James Tomlinson

 Volvo 70 Green Dragon, skippered by Cathal Mahon Photo: James Tomlinson

IRC Super Zero

Volvo 70 Green Dragon, skippered by Cathal Mahon of Galway Bay got a cracking start near the pin end, but Volvo 70 I Love Poland, skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski was soon up-to-speed. Swan 115 Jasi (SWE) was a magnificent sight and was the first in class to pass the mark at Puerto Calero. At 17:15 UTC Jasi was through the Strait of Bocaina, three miles ahead of I Love Poland (POL). IMOCA 60 Canada Ocean Racing (CAN), co-skippered by Scott Shawyer & Alan Roberts was third.

 Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), sailed by Stefan Jentzsch Photo: James Mitchell

Henri de Bokay’s Elliott 52 Rafale Photo: James Mitchell

IRC Zero

Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), sailed by Stefan Jentzsch, pulled off a stunning start at the pin end and immediately unfurled an enormous gennaker to take the lead on the water. By contrast, Eric de Turckheim’s NMYD Teasing Machine (FRA) chose the inshore end of the line. As the class leaders approached the turning mark at Puerto Calero, Black Pearl was clear away. Henri de Bokay’s Elliott 52 Rafale and Arto Linnervuo’s Infiniti 52 Tulikettu were in the chasing pack with Teasing Machine. A difference in tactics through the Strait of Bocaina saw Black Pearl go to the Fuerteventura coast along with Tulikettu and Teasing Machine. However, Rafale has split gybes heading north of the rhumb line, it will be interesting to see if their different approach pays off.

Pata Negra at sunset Photo: Chris Jackson 

Laurent Courbin’s First 53 Yagiza (FRA), skippered by Philippe Falle Photo: James Mitchell

IRC One

At 17:15 UTC, Laurent Courbin’s First 53 Yagiza (FRA), skippered by Philippe Falle leads on the water from Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR). Lionel Regnier’s Briand 58 L’Esprit D'Equipe was third.

Chris Jackson on board Pata Negra blogged as the sun set on the first day: “Great to start the race and be on our way. All settling in well on Pata Negra. The breeze is a little lighter than we hoped for, but there’s plenty of days to come for that to change. All happy aboard!”

IRC Two-Handed competitors in this year’s race are Kate Cope & Claire Dresser racing Sun Fast 3200 Purple Mist (GBR), and Peter & Duncan Bacon racing Sun Fast 3300 Sea Bear (GBR). Both teams have made a great start, with Sea Bear just ahead on the water, but Purple Mist leading after IRC time correction.

Peter & Duncan Bacon racing Sun Fast 3300 Sea Bear (GBR) Photo: James Tomlinson  

RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton watched the start from the water and spotted a fantastic moment when two historic round the world racing yachts were close-racing as they approached the Puerto Calero mark: “We have some great stories in this race,” commented Jeremy Wilton. “Penduick VI skippered by Marie Tabarly has been beautifully restored, which her father Eric would have been so proud of, and L’Esprit D'Equipe, winner of the ’85 Whitbread is a part of sailing history. The RORC want to attract the high performance boats like the MOD70s, Volvo 70s and the Supermaxi Swan 115 Jasi, but we also want the Corinthians as well. We want diversity and that is really evident in this fleet, with classic yachts and passionate two-handed teams like Kate and Claire on Purple Mist and Peter and Duncan on Sea Bear.”

“It’s fantastic to see the fleet start the race,” commented RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole. “In the build-up, we have had really good communication with the competitors who have given us all the information required in good time. This has allowed us to concentrate on other aspects of the race such as safety inspections. There have been a few tiny things that needed some attention, but all of the boats are well-prepared to cross the Atlantic. We now move to the next phase; monitoring the race 24 hours a day. We wish all of the boats fair winds and we look forward to seeing the competitors in Grenada.

Track the fleet below