#rorc – The RORC Season's Points Championship continues this weekend with the highly popular Cowes Dinard-St Malo Race. With 173 entries, the 151 nautical mile race will feature the largest RORC fleet since the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race. For spectators, there will be good views of the start from Cowes Parade on the Isle of Wight. The fastest yachts will reach Hurst Castle early on Friday morning, by midday the majority of the fleet should pass this vantage point on the mainland shore.
In IRC Canting Keel, Mikey Ferguson's British IMOCA 60, Artemis Ocean Racing, is the class leader for the season, taking line honours in every race sailed. However for the race to St Malo, Artemis Ocean Racing is up against stiff opposition. Andrew Budgen and Fred Schwyn's British Volvo 70, Monster Project, returns to RORC racing, as does the 2013 St Malo Race overall winner and race record holder Mike Slade's British Farr 100, Leopard. For this year's race Leopard's crew includes: Boat Captain Chris Sherlock, Navigator Hugh Agnew, Gian Ahluwalia, Paul Standbridge, Guy Salter and Guillermo Altadil. In 2008, Leopard set the race record with an elapsed time of 14 hours, 7 minutes and 42 seconds.
"We are very much looking forward to the St Malo race with most of our Fastnet crew, barring a few of the guys who did the last Volvo Ocean Race. The weather is interesting and with the forecast wind being south to start then going south east, the record could possibly be within our grasp – otherwise we are shooting for line honours and to be in St Malo for a good lunch on Saturday". Commented Mike Slade.
Tony Lawson's ballistic MOD 70, Concise 10, will be taking part in its first RORC race. "We don't officially have the boat until the day before the race but we have had an extended hand-over, which means we have had several months getting to know her. We will be looking to get Concise 10 to St Malo as safely and as quickly as possible." commented skipper, Ned Collier Wakefield.
Some of the previous Foncia crew will be on board Concise 10, Ned Collier Wakefield is also joined by navigator, Wouter Verbraak, who has been helping out with weather analysis for the Concise Team for some time. More experience comes in the shape of Andy Meiklejohn and Johnny Malbon and talented youth in Jack Bouttell and Tom Dawson.
In IRC Zero, Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 51, Tonnerre 4 will be racing and hoping to follow on from the overall victory in last month's Morgan Cup Race. Tonnerre 4 is currently leading the class for the season, with Windward Sailing's British CM60, Venomous in second place. Venomous, skippered by Derek Saunders, will be racing this weekend, as will Philip Rann's British Frers 93 Bristolian, class winner for last month's De Guingand Bowl Race.
In IRC One, 20 yachts will be competing including some electric downwind flyers; Stewart Whitehead & Jeff Blue's all-carbon Carkeek 40, Rebellion, makes its RORC debut, and on paper, is the fastest yacht in the class. A clutch of Class40s racing under IRC and Edward Broadway's British Ker 40, Hooligan VII will be close competition, a high speed pursuit is expected. Several larger displacement yachts will be racing in IRC One including, Richard Loftus' British Swan 65, Desperado of Cowes, which has been RORC racing for decades and Belgian Michel Lebrun's Route du Rhum legend, Kriter V. IRC One Class leader, Steven Anderson's British Corby 40, Cracklin Rosie will be competing.

"So far this has been a fantastic RORC season with both quality and quantity of entries. Also the timing of the races has meant that we are arriving at the finish at a good time to stay over and socialise at the yacht club, it is great to meet other competitors after the races. We are delighted we are doing so well but we are also aware that there is more to come out of Cracklin Rosie." commented Steven Anderson.

In IRC Two, 39 yachts will be racing including last year's overall winner for the race; Eric Gicquel's J/133, Black Jack, which is from St Malo. Peter Newland's British First 40.7, Anticipation is the class leader for the season and will be hoping to repeat the class win in last month's Morgan Cup Race. RORC Commodore, Michael Boyd and former Commodore, Peter Rutter will be racing Grand Soleil 43, Quokka 8, which is the scratch boat for the class. British Reflex 38, Sirens' Tigress with an all-girl crew, skippered by Susan Glenny, continues their Rolex Fastnet Race preparations with their fourth RORC race of the season.

IRC Three represents the largest class racing with 48 yachts expected to cross the start line this Friday, including 11 yachts racing in the Two Handed Class. Louis-Marie Dussere's French JPK 10.10, Raging Bee has been in spectacular form this season and leads both the Two Handed Class and IRC Three. Arnaud Delamare and Eric Mordret French JPK 10.80, Dream Pearls, will be racing, and was in fine form for the Morgan Cup Race, winning the class and placing third overall. However the return of Géry Trentesaux's French JPK 10.8, Courrier Du Leon has not gone unnoticed. Courrier Du Leon has already won three races overall this season and will be a firm favourite for the Cowes Dinard-St Malo Race.
"There is a complex weather picture, so it is difficult to predict anything." commented Géry Trentesaux. "As always, our goal this season remains the same, the Rolex Fastnet Race, and the race to St Malo will be very much part of that preparation. I would also like to inform all competitors that there will be a party on Saturday evening organised by Jean-Louis Fabri to celebrate the 90th birthday of the RORC and the bicentenary for the Royal Yacht Squadron, competitors from all yachts will be very welcome."
Coinciding with the the French National Day celebrations, the ancient walled city of St Malo will already have a party atmosphere, which will be bolstered by in excess of 1500 sailors, racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club.