The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s (RORC) Myth of Malham Race attracted a record entry of 147 boats racing under the IRC Rating Rule for the Myth of Malham Cup.

The 235nm race attracted the largest entry for any offshore yacht race since the 2022 Newport Bermuda.

A downwind start, with spinnakers flying in bright sunshine, was spectacular viewing in Cowes. Strategy came straight into play immediately after leaving the Solent. With light wind forecast for the middle of the English Channel, the big decision was whether to play the local breeze on the South Coast of England or venture across the English Channel to gain favourable wind off the French Coast, ever mindful of the Casquettes Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). Teams in the race reported wind speed as high as 27 knots and as low as a total shut down.

After IRC time correction, RORC Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim racing NMD 54 Teasing Machine (FRA) was the winner. Runner-up was RORC Commodore James Neville in his debut race with Carkeek 45 Ino Noir (GBR). Third was the Family De Graaf’s Ker 43 Baraka GP (NED). Fourth was Jean Pierre Barjon’s Botin 65 Spirit of Lorina (GBR). Peter Morton’s Maxi 72 Notorious (GBR) took Line Honours, won IRC Super Zero and was fifth overall. Gorm Gondesen’s Nica (GER) took Multihull Line Honours.

The 2023 Myth of Malham Race from the RYS at Cowes – Eddystone – Solent is a 235nm race Photo: Paul Wyeth

Congratulations to all of the class winners, including (IRC One) Gilles Fournier & Corinne Migraine’s Pintia, (IRC Two) Ross Applebey’s Scarlet Oyster, (IRC Three) Mike Yates’ JAGO, (IRC T-H) Dan & Zeb Fellow’s Orbit, and (IRC Four) Scherzo of Cowes raced by Joph Carter & Robbie Southall.

“Well done to Teasing Machine and all of the winners, this was a complex race with many opportunities for gains and losses throughout,” commented RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole. “The staying power of the last dozen or so to finish the race was really impressive, the classic yawl Amokura finished after 2 days and 12 hours on the course. All of these teams showed great determination, which will be needed to complete the Rolex Fastnet Race in July.”

Myth of Malham Results here

Ino Noir (left) & Teasing Machine Photo: Paul Wyeth

Eric de Turckheim’s Teasing Machine had a close battle with Ino Noir during the 235nm race. Under the IRC Rule, Teasing Machine gives Ino Noir 96 seconds and hour. After the leading boats all raced south of the Casquettes TSS, Teasing Machine rounded the Eddystone Lighthouse 30 minutes before Ino Noir, a lead on corrected time of 22 minutes. On the beat to finish Teasing Machine slightly extended their lead, winning by less than 27 minutes on corrected time from Ino Noir.

“It was an exhausting race; very cold and as it was sort of a sprint, so we did not sleep very much,” commented de Turckheim. “The first part of the race was downwind in relatively light breeze and Ino Noir was very fast, we could see them all the time, and they matched us gybe for gybe, even over-taking us for some moments. The return from Eddystone was more difficult for Ino Noir, it was upwind and the sea state was choppy, and this suited Teasing Machine more. We were always aware that we had the threat of Ino behind, but our philosophy is to race our boat as best as we can. We stayed offshore in the best wind but it was very variable, but after St Alban’s Head we tacked inshore towards the finish. There was a transition zone between two winds as we came towards the finish, which I think we got through very well. I have not done this race for many years, winning overall is great. It is especially gratifying to see that the work we have done to reduce the weight of Teasing Machine is fantastic for the boat.”

Teasing Machine crew: Eric de Turckheim, Bertrand Castelnerac, Christian Ponthieu, Jerome Teillet, Laurent Mahy, Laurent Pages, Paco Lepoutre, Quentin Bouchacourt, Quentin Le Nabour, Tony Brochet.

The crimson red Carkeek 45 Ino Noir Photo: Paul Wyeth 

“I was very nervous before our first race for Ino Noir, but we had no real issues, the boat handled the conditions really well,” commented RORC Commodore James Neville. “To be right in the race until the last 20 miles was really satisfying. Unfortunately we fully parked up in the transition zone between and I think that cost us the chance of winning. But coming second in our first race, we can’t complain, we were beaten by one of the best boats out there (Teasing Machine). Maybe their taller rig and water line length gave them some advantages when it went light, but it was anybody’s game. Well done to Eric and his crew and also Baraka GP, which had a really good second half of the race, the De Graaf family sailed really well.”

Sun Fast 3300 Orbit Photo: Paul Wyeth

Forty-Seven pairs started in IRC Two-Handed for the Myth of Malham and there was joy and pain for teams in the race. The winner of IRC Two-Handed after time correction was Dan & Zeb Fellows racing Sun Fast 3300 Orbit (GBR). Second by just 82 seconds after IRC time correction was Ian Hoddle racing Sun Fast 3300 Gameon (GBR), racing with Ollie Wyatt. Third was Christian Teichmann’s JPK 1030 Vela Roja (GER) racing with Hugh Brayshaw.

“I hate computers so my 16-year-old son Zeb was the navigator for this race, he has done several virtual Vendee Globes and we went the right way!” smiled Orbit’s Dan Fellows. “With so many 3300s in the race, it is very easy to get caught up in the ‘bees round the honeypot’ and attract to each other but we did what we wanted to do. On the way back we were going to sail north of the TSS but there was no wind there, so we just kept going and got into good wind on the French side. I sail the boat with our kids and my partner, and we have only had Orbit since November. We are Devon bumpkins, we only live 12 miles from the Eddystone in Newton Ferris! I have done a bit of short-handed racing on multihulls and Zeb has higher aspirations in single-handed sailing, but don’t big us up. As a father doing great things with his kids, this has been a lot of fun."

Sam White & Sam North racing JPK 1080 Mzungu! felt the pain of being penalised having scored the best corrected time in IRC Two-Handed. Mzungu! showed their honesty and sportsmanship in their Race Declaration by admitting that they had entered the corner of an exclusion zone for which Mzungu! received a 10% penalty. “We understand that even though we had absolutely no advantage, and the mistake was completely unintentional, our win no longer stands,” commented Sam North. “Nonetheless it was a great race, and we have put a lot of preparation and ideas into practice, especially for the Rolex Fastnet race.”

The 2023 RORC Myth of Malham fleet Photo: Paul Wyeth

The RORC Myth of Malham Race is part of the 2023 RORC Season's Points Championship, the world's largest offshore racing series.

Race eight of the series will be held in Irish waters, the 235nm Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race, organised by The National Yacht Club, that will start on Wednesday, 7 June.

#mythofmalham – Over the Bank Holiday Weekend, a tense, tactical and complex yacht race played out along the south coast of England. 141 yachts, racing in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Myth of Malham Race, enjoyed a dress rehearsal for the start of this year's famous Rolex Fastnet Race. The Western Solent was a magnificent sight with over a hundred spinnakers flying, heading for the Eddystone Lighthouse, off Plymouth Sound. At one stage it looked very promising for Anthony O'Leary's Catapult from Royal Cork but light winds later in the race thwarted any chance of overall victory giving the Ker 40 ninth overall by the finish.

The complex tidal flow along the 229 mile coastal course, was a crucial part of the race. Before sundown on the first day, the larger high performance yachts seemed to have the upper hand, enjoying an advantage of water line length in positive tide, as well as rig height and sail choice more suited to light airs reaching. However, several smaller yachts made the crucial tidal gate at Portland Bill to stay in touch with the larger rivals. During the first night and the second day, light airs persisted and with the high performance yachts not able to achieve planing speed, the smaller yachts were in with a chance of overall victory.

The winner of the Myth of Malham Race was Géry Trentesaux's French JPK 10.80, Courrier Du Leon, racing with a highly experienced team including UNCL President, Marc de Saint Denis and the founder of the JPK Breton Boatyard, Jean-Pierre Kelbert. Courrier Du Leon had a tremendous battle with Nicolas Gaumont-Prat's French First 40.7, Philosophie IV. After over 36 hours of racing, Courrier Du Leon won by one minute and 26 seconds on corrected time.

"It is a great feeling to win this race, it was a very competitive, especially as there were 48 yachts on our start line." commented Géry Trentesaux. "In our class we knew that making Portland Bill before the tide turned against us was just possible but we knew we would have to sail to the best of our ability to make the tidal gate. Our navigator, Marc (de Saint Denis) is our magician, judging precisely when to tack for Portland after leaving the Solent, making the best use of the current that was with us before turning for the headland. Only a few of the smaller boats made it to Portland Bill before the tide turned and that was a major point in the race. During the first night we concentrated on finding wind, we have a good crew on board with a lot of experience and everyone was looking for any signs of wind on the water or in the sky. On the first night, our tactic was to stay inshore but not too close to the land and we were encouraged by seeing big boats around us. I must congratulate the team racing Philosophie IV, it was an outstanding performance from them in a much older boat. We only won by a minute or so, one small mistake from us and they would have won, Philosophie IV sailed a great race and we had to work very hard to beat them."

"It was a fantastic battle and to receive praise from Géry (Trentesaux) is very nice to hear." commented Nicolas Gaumont-Prat. "Philosophie went very well, literally match racing Courrier Du Leon for most of the race. However, on the way back, approaching Portland, Courrier Du Leon decided to go offshore and we preferred inshore, which was a good choice and we did make some gains there, so Portland was crucial on the return as well. However it was not quite enough to win the race but this has been a great start to the season for the crew. We have a crew of seven and for this race, we used our proposed Fastnet watch system; two watches of three people and myself, as navigator, out of the watch. One watch is all English and the other French, so there is plenty of competition but they all agree that their superb performance makes the navigator look like a tactical genius!"

Mikey Ferguson's IMOCA 60, Artemis Ocean Racing took line honours in the race and the IRC Canting Keel Class by just over an hour and 20 minutes from Chris Le Prevost's IMOCA 60, Rosalba, skippered by Andy Greenwood. In IRC Zero, Piet Vroon's Tonnerre 4 was the winner from Windward Sailing's CM60, Venomous, skippered by Derek Saunders. In IRC One, Mike Bartholomew's South African team, racing GP42 Tokoloshe II, was the winner of the highly competitive class and placed third overall for the Myth of Malham. Steven Anderson's Corby 40, Cracklin Rosie sailed well to take second in class from former RORC Commodore, Mike Greville, racing Ker 39, Erivale III. In the 32-strong Two Handed Class, Louis-Marie Dussere's French JPK 10.10 Raging Bee was the winner, retaining the class lead for the RORC Season's Points Championship from Rob Craigie's Sun Fast 36, Bellino. Patrick Bauné and Jean-Eudes Renier's JPK 10.80 Shaitan was third.

36 yachts were racing in IRC Two and the winner by less than 12 minutes on corrected time was Andy Theobald's J/122, R&W. Peter Newlands' First 40.7, Anticipation was second, just 11 minutes ahead after time correction from Simon Bamford's Arcona 410, Kestrel.

"The J/122 is a new boat for us and we are delighted with the boat speed." commented Andy Theobald. "We chose to start on the island shore and stay away from the carnage at the pin end and in clear air we got away well. However, we knew we couldn't make Portland Bill before the tide changed, so we stayed offshore and found plenty of breeze, so it was a great start to the race. We did hit a big hole in the wind off Lime Bay, which was frustrating, but a pod of about a dozen or so dolphins were all around us, we could hear there blow holes and that cheered us up no-end, especially for Christine Allen, who was taking part in her first offshore. The crew on R&W is a mixture of the team from our previous Sigma 362 and people who work for my R&W Civil Engineering. It is really encouraging for newcomers to offshore racing to do so well and see such a fantastic sight as dolphins in the wild."

On Monday evening a small number of boats are yet to finish and a number of protests have been received by the Race Committee. None of these will detract from Géry Trentesaux's overall win, but there may still be some changes in other positions.

Géry Trentesaux's JPK 10.80, Courrier Du Leon is the new overall leader for the 2015 RORC Season's Points Championship, just a single point ahead of Rob Craigie's Sunfast 36, Bellino. Louis-Marie Dussere's JPK 10.10, Raging Bee is third overall and leading the Two Handed Class. Racing for the championship continues on 5th June with the De Guingand Bowl Race from Cowes to Cherbourg via Marks.