The challenge of a tough and competitive offshore race in the warm and idyllic racing conditions of the Caribbean has been taken up by two teams from Howth Yacht Club that will travel to Antigua to take part in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 'Caribbean 600'. The 2016 race will see 66 entries start this 600-mile long offshore on the 22nd February which, due to the strong 20 knot trade winds and challenging navigation around 11 islands, is quickly becoming a classic in the RORC's calendar.

Darren Wright has put together an experienced offshore team that has chartered the First 40 Southern Child for the race. The team is made up of HYC members that raced the same boat in the 2014 Rolex Middle Sea Race, including Kieran Jameson, Frank Dillon, Rick De Neve, Jonny White, Colm Bermingham as well as owner Lucy Reynolds. Darren has added further strength to this campaign with the inclusion of his brother Michael along with Howth K25 Squad member Luke Malcolm and HYC's former-Commodore Brian Turvey.

One of three First 40s entered in this 600-mile offshore race, Southern Child is likely to be competing in the competitive and closely-matched IRC 2 division, while Howth's other entry, Conor Fogarty's SunFast 3600 Bam is likely to compete in the IRC 3 division and will be one of the smallest boats racing amongst the 66-boat fleet. An eclectic team of experienced offshoreracers will join Conor, including Simon Knowles, Daragh Heagney, Paddy Gregory, Roger Smith and Anthony Doyle. Conor told us "'We would hope to follow on from the success that Red Shift (another Sunfast 3600) had last year and it would be great to win in IRC 3. There is another 3600 in our class One and Only, but she trailed us by nearly 2 days in the ARC, so we will have to wait and see if she's up to speed yet."

Bam is then off to the Gill Commodore's Cup and Heineken Regatta in St.Maarten, more of a 'leisurely' event for Conor and the team, as they don't expect their CSA rating to be great. (CSA is the Caribbean Racing Association's version of ECHO, so Bam's introduction to the fleet will mean that she's likely to carry an initial hefty rating.) Bam will be sailed back 2,200nm to the Azores by Conor (single handed) in preparation for the inaugural Solo Fastnet in July, where he will compete with seven other 3600's all sailing single-handed in this event for the first time. The boat is also entered into the 2-handed Volvo Round Ireland and the 2-handed ISORA season - it's going to be a busy year for Conor!

The Caribbean 600 continues to grow in prestige and has become a real jewel in the RORC's racing calendar. The Howth teams will also be jostling for overall IRC honours with the world’s best, as this year's Caribbean 600 has attracted an astounding array of the fastest and most competitive offshore racing yachts on the planet. Shipping straight to the Caribbean from the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race will be Comanche, Jim & Kristy Hinze Clark's American 100ft Supermaxi, which rightly claims to be the fastest monohull in the world for her 24-hour record run (2015 Transatlantic Race, 618.01 nm, averaging 25.75 knots).

Comanche races with as many as 29 crew, led by Kenny Read, who was on board George David's Rambler 100 to set the RORC Caribbean 600 course record in 2011 (40 hours 20 mins 02 secs). Given the right conditions, Comanche is very capable of breaking Rambler 100's record. Joining Comanche in IRC ‘canting keel division’, will be Ireland's third entry in the star studded 66 boat fleet - Adrian Lee's Cookson 50 Lee Overlay Partners. Adrian and his team are no slouches when it comes to offshore racing in warm waters, having broken the monohull speed record in the Dubai to Muscat Race in 2013 and also won the inaugural Caribbean 600 in 2009.

Other boats in that class include Bouwe Bekking's Dutch Volvo Ocean 65 Team Brunel and the magnificent Andrews 80 Donnybrook. This will be the first occasion that a Volvo Ocean One Design has taken part in the RORC Caribbean 600 and although undoubtedly slower than Comanche reaching in big breeze, Team Brunel does have the advantage of being highly manageable around the myriad of corners of the 11 islands on this course. The German canting keel Ker 56 Varuna VI has been shipped to the Caribbean to take part, making up a formidable trio of early entries for the IRC canting keel class and more yachts are expected to follow.

In 2015, the 70 foot trimaran Phaedo3 set the RORC Caribbean 600 multihull record in 33 hours, 35 minutes and 30 seconds and is back again following its completion of the RORC Transatlantic Race in November.

Phaedo3 will have hot competition for multihull ‘line honours’ with the MOD 70 Concise 10 and also the Nigel Irens 63 Paradox, which might struggle to keep up with the larger, lighter rivals, but Paradox has beaten both yachts under the MOCRA rating rule for the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

This event will be the first 4-boat ‘offshore-showdown’ in the history of the Maxi 72 Class. Bella Mente lifted the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy in 2015, having scored the best corrected time under IRC. Bella Mente will be joined by Jethou, Momo and Proteus. All four yachts are capable of blistering pace in trade wind conditions and a high speed match race will make for thrilling racing. Joining the four Maxi 72s will be more hot competition from Irving Laidlaw's Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup champion Highland Fling XI which has the waterline length and a planing hull, capable of taking on the Maxi 72s. Overall winner of the 2015 Transatlantic Race, the RP63 Lucky will revel in the fast conditions. TP52 Sorcha and Piet Vroon's Ker 51 Tonnerre 4 had an epic battle last time out and both will be back this year. Sorcha won last year's 600-mile match race with Tonnerre 4 and placed second overall.

The RORC Caribbean 600 has always attracted the majestic classic yachts that frequent the Caribbean and this year includes the the Alfred Mylne designed 65ft sloop, the Blue Peter which was built in England in 1930 and called the Blue Peter for luck, after the 'P' flag, which all Howth racing sailors will know is used as the preparatory signal before starting a race.

Following the release of the final list of entries, RORC Chief Executive Eddie Warden commented “The impressive number of high performance yachts is a superb endorsement for the RORC Caribbean 600. No offshore race in the world commands such a level of competition as we are seeing entered for the 2016 race. The unique 600 mile race course circumnavigates 11 islands, with guaranteed trade winds and creates spectacular sailing conditions and that is the big attraction."

RORC Commodore Michael Boyd will also be taking part in what will be his fifth race, navigating for RORC Admiral Andrew McIrvine on his Grand Soleil 46 Bella Donna. Micheal said of the race: “The RORC Caribbean 600 has beautiful weather and spectacular nature; whales and turtles are often sighted. At night conditions are warm with impressive meteor showers lighting up the sky. All of these elements make this a very special race. Everyone that takes part has their story from the race. Sailors come from all over the world with aspirations of winning their class, but win or lose, over the past seven editions of the race the competitors have told the RORC what a memorable experience it has been. I am sure those feelings will continue.”

The race starts and begins in Antigua and competitors expect fresh (but warm!) 15-22 knot easterly trades and big seas for the duration.

The IRC rating rule has been used by racing owners in Asia for many years, with major IRC regattas well established in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. In the last few years Japan and mainland China have benefited from the use of IRC for their racing fleets, and now the RORC Rating Office and the Chinese Taipei Sailing Association (CTSA) are pleased to announce that IRC will be used for Taiwan-owned boats in 2016, further strengthening the IRC fleet in East Asia.

The local yachting scene in Taiwan has recently been boosted by the relaxation of harbour entry and tax rules, in an effort to help develop the domestic market in leisure yacht ownership as well as attracting visiting yachts. Against this positive background the CTSA, as the World Sailing Member National Authority for the country, is enthusiastic in its responsibility to organise and encourage fair yacht racing for their sailors and recognises the IRC rating system as a superior method of handicapping its local fleet.

The CTSA plans to hold IRC racing at the Penghu International Regatta Series this summer and looks forward to introducing IRC rating to boat owners in Taiwan.

Taiwan lies around 180km east of China, so using the IRC rating rule will allow Taiwanese owners to race not only in their local waters but also in events organized by neighbouring China and Hong Kong, and indeed any other IRC race worldwide. Visiting sailors who hold IRC ratings will also be able to join in with races in Taiwan and have the opportunity to race in a different mixed fleet and boost local entries.

IRC is one of only two International Rating Rules as recognised by World Sailing, and annually issues 8000 certificates to 6000 boats racing in hundreds of club and international events in almost 40 countries worldwide. In all but one of the famous offshore classic races, including the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and Rolex Middle Sea Race, the major trophy is awarded to the overall winner in IRC.

Michael Boyd, the Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and current holder of the Commodore’s Cup, will return to compete in the 2016 Volvo Round Ireland race, marking the 20th anniversary of his win, with many of the same crew from his 1996 winning yacht, Big Ears.

The 18th Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race is set to be one of the most heated editions in the race’s history say organisers with a number of prestigious international sailing champions announcing they will contest this year’s edition.

Michael Boyd's choice of a J/35 as his first serious offshore racer was a shrewd decision 20 years ago. He won the Round Ireland in style with Big Ears and more recently the J/35 model has been one of the few exceptional boats to be inducted into American Sailing's Hall of Fame. In the 1996 race Boyd and his crew, minus one removed to hospital off Kerry with fractured ribs, played every tiny gain to beat Roy, Dickson's Beaumont Spirit on Channel handicap, the deciding system for determining the overall race winner.

Twenty years later, the race received a major boost before Christmas with Volvo Cars Ireland coming on board as title sponsor this year after four years without sponsorship.

Phillip Johnston has also confirmed that he will be entering the impressive Open 60 Artemis-Team Endeavour, the current holder of the Round Great Britain and Ireland Race, under skipper Michael Ferguson.

The current holder of the Fastnet Race's Roger Justice trophy Rónán Ó Siochrú has also confirmed that he will be back to contest the Round Ireland for the fourth time.

At the end of 2015 internationally renowned sailor and US businessman, George David also announced his intention to enter his yacht Rambler 88 into the 2016 race. The canting keel maxi yacht would be a strong contender to break the Volvo Round Ireland Race record of 2 days 17 hours 48 minutes 47 seconds which is held by Mike Slade in ICAP Leopard 3 achieved in 2008.

Meanwhile, following the announcement that 2016 will be the first time that multihulls will be invited to compete, Team Concise have already indicated their intention to enter their world-class fleet. Ned Collier Wakefield, Team Director and Skipper for Team Concise, has indicated that they intend entering their 3 boats into the 2016 Volvo Round Ireland – the MOD 70 and their 2 Class 40 boats.

The Race only officially opens for entries next Monday (18th January 2016), however with the quality of entries already at such competitive levels, Race organisers expect the 2016 Volvo Round Ireland to be one of the most competitive and exciting races ever, attracting serious quality sailors and some of the finest yachts from across the world.

Race organiser Theo Phelan:

“We have further expressions of interest from some really exciting names that we hope to be in a position to announce in the coming weeks. Already the competition is heating up and we expect many previous race entrants to return to contest what is set to be one of the most exciting races ever.”

“The new Volvo Cars title sponsorship is a paramount development in the expansion of the race, which allows us to plan ahead for the significant growth of the race in the coming years.”

The 2016 Volvo Round Ireland departs Wicklow Bay on Saturday 18th June 2016 with the first start at 13.00 hours.

Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, this year's RORC Annual Dinner & Prize Giving will take place later this month in the spectacular setting of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London. Prize winners, competitors, crews, members and guests will be out of their foul weather gear, spruced up for the black tie dinner and awards ceremony.

The 2015 RORC Season's Points Championship is the world's largest and arguably most competitive offshore yacht racing series. Over nine months, 13 races have been organised for 579 yachts with over 3,000 miles of racing in European and Caribbean locations. The RORC Annual Dinner & Prize Giving is the 'Oscars Ceremony' of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The sailors, the setting and the occasion will make for a truly memorable evening.

RORC Yacht of the Year
Ian Walker, the first British skipper to win the Volvo Ocean Race will be presenting the prizes, bar one. The Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team's Volvo Ocean 65, Azzam, skippered by Walker, has been awarded the RORC Yacht of the Year. Winning the Volvo Ocean Race in a one-design boat, competing against equally experienced sailors over nine gruelling legs with conditions ranging from calm to storm force, has been recognised by the RORC Committee as a truly outstanding achievement and a worthy winner of the Somerset Memorial Trophy

RORC Season's Points Championship Winner
Géry Trentesaux, campaigning his latest Courrier, a brand new JPK 10.80, Courrier Du Leon has also had an astounding year, culminating in winning one of the most sought after trophies in offshore yacht racing: The Fastnet Challenge Cup for the outright winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race. For his achievements this year Trentesaux will add a further seven trophies to the bulging cabinet which includes the Jazz Trophy for best yacht in IRC Overall, the Grenade Goblet as winner of IRC Three and the Corinthian Meritorious Award.

IRC Canting Keel
Mikey Ferguson's Open 60, Artemis Ocean Racing has had a tremendous season battling mainly with another Open 60, Rosalba. With five race wins and line honours achievements in many of the races, Mikey and crew romped home to win IRC Canting Keel.

IRC Zero
Piet Vroon's Ker 51, Tonnerre 4 and Windward Sailing's Farr 60, Venomous dominated IRC Zero. Tonnerre 4's outstanding performance to take second place in class for the heavily weighted Rolex Fastnet Race being the difference. Piet and the team will be awarded the Europeans Cup for the best yacht in IRC Zero.

IRC One
In IRC One it came down to the Cherbourg Race, the last of the domestic season to decide the winner of the championship. After a top ten class result in his 17th Fastnet Race, past RORC Commodore, Mike Greville will collect the Trenchemer Cup for Ker 39, Erivale III, the best yacht out of 118 entries in IRC One, narrowly beating Vice Commodore, Steven Anderson sailing his Corby 40, Cracklin Rosie into second place.

IRC Two
Vincent Willemart and Eric Van Campenhout's MC34, Azawakh will lift the Emily Verger Plate as winners of IRC Two, which was one of the most competitive classes racing in the championship. Azawakh only managed one race victory all season, but their consistent performance and a second in class for the Rolex Fastnet Race secured her class victory ahead of three boats that all finished within a point of one another: Patrick Ponchelet in Eception with 471 points, Peter Newlands in Anticipation with 470.8 points and RORC Admiral, Andrew McIrvine in La Réponse with 470 points.

IRC Three
IRC Three was dominated not only by the new JPK designs, but also the French, with the top four being based just across the English Channel. Géry Trentesaux's Courrier Du Leon was victorious in class, followed by her sister ship, Arnaud Delamere and Eric Mordret's Dream Pearls. Third place went to 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race winner, Pascal Loison in his JPK 10.10, Night and Day and fourth, the very well travelled JPK10.10, Raging Bee. Louis-Marie Dussere followed up the Transquadra in January with the RORC Caribbean 600 in February, before returning to show very well in IRC Three and win the IRC Two-Handed Division for a second successive year.

IRC Four
In IRC Four, Noel Racine's JPK 10.10, Foggy Dew made the podium on five occasions, winning three races in class to win the Cowland Trophy for the third consecutive year. Noel and his team were pushed hard all the way by Jonathan Rolls in his Swan SR 38, Xara (top Swan in the championship winning the Arambalza Swan Cup) and the 1934 S & S classic yawl, Stormy Weather of Cowes owned by Christopher Spray. Christopher wins the Freddie Morgan Trophy for top Classic Yacht in IRC for boats built before 1974.

Two-Handed Division
Over 100 yachts raced Two-Handed in the 2015 RORC Season's Points Championship and Louis-Marie Dussere's JPK 10.10, Raging Bee won the class despite being beaten in IRC Three by Pascal Loison's Night and Day, fellow Cherbourg-based Two-Handers. Raging Bee triumphed in the Two-Handed division due to competitors being spread across the classes.

MOCRA Class
The MOCRA Multihull Class has produced some fantastic competition across a number of the races and despite being slightly smaller, heavier and some might say more comfortable than some of her rivals, Peter Aschenbrenner's Nigel Irens 63ft Trimaran, Paradox has won the class from Lloyd Thornburg's record breaking MOD 70, Phaedo3 and Tony Lawson's MOD 70, Concise 10 skippered by Ned Collier-Wakefield.

Class40
Also from Tony Lawson's Team Concise came the top two boats in the Class40 Division. Concise 8, skippered by Jack Trigger narrowly beating Concise 2 skippered by Phillippa Hutton-Squire.

This year's winning teams come from six different countries; Belgium; France; Great Britain; The Netherlands; United Arab Emirates and USA. 19 yachts will be awarded with trophies, including the Dennis P Miller Memorial Trophy for outstanding performance by a British Yacht Overseas; this year awarded to the J24, Il Riccio for winning the J24 World Championship. Other trophies reward consistent high performance, youth in offshore racing, seamanship and assistance rendered to other vessels during racing.

As Ireland prepares to defend the Commodores' Cup, last night at the Royal Ocean Racing Club's St James clubhouse, the 2016 Commodores' Cup was formally launched. Ireland's plan is to field two teams; a 'full on' first team and an 'academy' team. The Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup will take place out of Cowes, Isle of Wight over 23rd-30th July 2016.

Outgoing ICRA commodore Nobby Reilly is looking after preparations for the Irish Cup campaign and both he and Barry Rose gave an update on Irish team developments when the ICRA executive met at the end of September in Portlaoise but little detail yet about team composition.

Next year will see the reintroduction of a small boat for the team competition next year. ICRA has sought expressions of interest from owners wanting to become involved in the Irish teams.

The first is the requirement of every team to have a small boat with a rating between 1.000 and 1.049. “Many teams in the last event believed that it was hard to be competitive without having three boats that were close to the top of the allowable rating band, as was the case of last year’s winning Irish team,” said RORC chief executive, Eddie Warden Owen. Lowering the rating band to 1.000 will make it easier for J109s to enter, to include boats like the JPK10.10, A35 and the new Sunfast 3200, and reduce the cost of competing.

First Israeli team
Something of a surprise was the first team officially to enter the 2016 event being not one of the regulars - France, Ireland or the UK - but Israel. Alongside judo, sailing is Israel's top Olympic sport, but to date this hasn't extended to big boats.

In addition to the Israelis, and the four UK teams, France is expected to mount a strong entry, having not won the event since 2006. The defending champion, Ireland, is expected to return, plus at least one Dutch team and possibly another composite Benelux team. Hong Kong has shown interest and there remains the strong possibility of a team from Canada.

This is the result of the RORC putting in extra effort to drum up more international competition, says RORC CEO, Eddie Warden Owen. "We have been more proactive about advertising the race worldwide, that it is a really international event and as a Corinthian, amateur event, it is worth winning."

The Israeli campaign is being spearheaded by British sailor Richard Loftus, well known for campaigning his Swan 65, Desperado. Under Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup rules, 50% of the crew must be Israeli nationals and Loftus has arranged with the Israeli Sailing Association to run a trials to select the best sailors. The intention is to start with 50 and whittle them down to the top 20, who will then train from March onwards.

Loftus says he will not be entering Desperado and he is also not expecting boats to come from Israel. "I am optimistic that I can find English or foreign owners with an Israeli connection who would like to enter the event. I can say to them 'you come with your crew, bring your bowman, etc, but I'll provide half the guys and they will be seriously good sailors. It is a good deal for both parties."

British hopes
The Royal Yachting Association again intends to field four teams - three English and one Scottish. The British team's Selection Committee comprises David Aisher, Philosophie owner Nicolas Gaumont-Prat and sailor Alex Gardner.

"At the moment there is a lot of interest - 12-15 boats," says Aisher, Chairman of Selectors. "Hopefully we'll put up a suitable team to win the trophy back from the Irish. Having competed three times myself, it is a great event to be part of - it puts together people, not only with their boats, but bringing them together as a team."

The selection process will take place at weekend trial events over April-May, plus the RORC's Cervantes Trophy and De Guingand Bowl races.

Britain and Ireland have alternated winning the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup since 2008. In theory next year is the turn of the British again.

New look event
Once again the race format will include an offshore race and around the Isle of Wight, but the number of scheduled inshores has increased from six to ten. Racing Manager of the RORC, Nick Elliott explains: "We appreciate the time and effort people put in to coming to the regatta - they want to be out there enjoying the Solent."

Whilst the rules for the 2016 event once again only allow teams to have one 'big boat' (i.e. IRC TCC between 1.150 and 1.049) each team must now have a 'small boat' (i.e. IRC TCC between 1.000 and 1.049) to increase the range of the boats taking part and make it easier for teams to create a team of three boats.

In 2014 the fleet started en masse to make it a spectacle. In 2016, in response to competitor feedback, the small boats will get their own starts. Warden Owen explains: "The masse start was tough on the small boats - they had to fight for clear air, against the bigger boats."

Similarly the number of ISAF Group 3 'professional' sailors in each team has increased to six, divided up across the three boats. Nick Elliott explains: "It is a Corinthian regatta, but the professional element helps to keep it at the very high level it is."

National Director of Brewin Dolphin, Rupert Tyler said Brewin Dolphin was pleased to be back for a third term as sponsor of the Commodores' Cup. "It has given us a great deal of pleasure to our directorate, our staff, all our employees, our clientele, our shareholders, and we are thrilled to be able to give you so much pleasure indirectly as well. It behoves me to wish everyone very good luck who is participating and in the organisation."

Northern Ireland's Solitaire du Figaro sailor, Andrew Baker, will be racing with Solo Round the World Sailor, Mike Golding in RORC's  second edition of the IRC Double Handed National Championship will take place in the Solent, this weekend. 

A huge variety of keelboats have entered with about 40 teams taking part. Three races are scheduled with no discard. The variety of courses are designed to test all the elements of Double Handed racing with a laid marks course, a round the cans race and a long passage race.

Last year's IRC Class 1winner, Paul Griffiths' J/109 Jagerbomb will be defending their title and Paul will be once again be sailing with his son Mark. Jagerbomb has been competing in the Two Handed class for this year's RORC Season's Points Championship, including the Rolex Fastnet Race.

“I am sure that we will be making more tacks and gybes this weekend than we did for the whole of the Fastnet.” commented Paul Griffiths. “Full on – would be an apt description, especially with the two races on Friday. Racing Double Handed on a short course is very different to offshore. You don't have the time and the space and you are trying to make manoeuvres that you would normally do with nine people not two, which is just crazy but the secret is to avoid getting into problems and to do that you have to be thinking ahead all the time. Looking at this year's entry list there are some top class sailors and this year we have a group of Figaro II's from the Artemis Offshore Academy, which we didn't have last year.”

Artemis Ocean Racing have entered four double handed teams racing Figaro II skippered by talented young aspiring short handed sailors. RYA Match racer and 49er FX sailor Mary Rook. Will Harris, University Student and past Laser 4.7 National Champion. Hugh Brayshaw, Silver medallist at the 470 Junior European Championship. Andrew Baker, Solitaire du Figaro sailor, will be racing with Solo Round the world sailor, Mike Golding.

“There is some real talent and that is why the Artemis Academy is very interesting to me, it is the direct opposite to the opportunities that were available to me when I started racing.” commented Mike Golding. “ Racing on a short course, you are both involved in sailing the boat, all the time, so the biggest thing about this weekend will be knowing where you are going and to get there as cleanly as possible. You don't have the time to go down below and navigate, you have to know the marks of the course in advance and think ahead to the sail set up you will need – you have to mind-map the sequence of events. Figaros are not optmised for IRC, so our first goal will be to beat the other Figaros, but with plenty of corners, if we are slick around them, we might do well overall. It is a pleasure to be involved this weekend, I am an honoury member of the Royal Southampton and the club has always been there supporting me in my projects. The Royal Southampton has been running short handed racing for a long time. Teaming up with the RORC, as an IRC event for the Double Handed series and running the National Championship, has really opened it up to a large number of entries, which is fantastic.”

Experience met ambition this weekend, as Northern Ireland Artemis Offshore Academy sailor Andrew Baker teamed up with round the world sailor Mike Golding for the RORC Cherbourg Race.
During the 75nm drag race to Cherbourg, France from Cowes, UK, Baker, from Saintfield in County Down was privy to a sailing master-class from one of the world’s most successful solo racers.
Golding has over 250,000 sailing miles under his belt and has achieved podium success in many of the world toughest offshore races. The British skipper has competed in a record four Vendée Globes, achieving his best result in 2004, third.
Arriving in Cherbourg on Saturday 5th September, Baker and Golding took line honors in IRC 2 aboard Artemis 23, beating 18 other boats to France. The pair finished a respectable 11th overall and were fifth in the double-handed division.
A member of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, Golding and Baker will team up once again for the IRC Double-handed National Championship later this month.
Five Artemis Offshore Academy Figaros took part in the Cherbourg Race- see their results below. Read Baker’s report on his race with Golding below:

Northern Ireland Artemis Offshore Academy sailor Andrew Baker (right) teamed up with round the world sailor Mike Golding

A few weeks ago, I was offered the opportunity to sail with Mike Golding in the RORC Cherbourg race. Without a second thought I said yes - 75nm sailed with one of the UK’s top solo racers is a lesson worth having. I looked forward to the knowledge and advice Mike would be able to impart during the race.
Before I knew it, it was race day. With Artemis 23 ready to go, I sailed over to Warsash to meet Mike for the first time. Although Mike is one of the UK’s top solo sailors with an incredible record, he was very approachable and any nerves I had quickly disappeared.
We began hoisting sails and preparing the boat for racing, I let Mike take control so he could get a feel for the Figaro one-design. Training session over, we headed to the start line ready for the IRC 2 gun at 1900.
The weather in the Solent was pretty bleak, with grey overcast skies. There was more wind than forecast for the start, but we prepared ourselves for the breeze to drop away into the evening.
Pushed for time, we charged towards the line. It soon transpired, however, that we’d been so deep in race mode that we’d forgotten to bring any spoons. I thought about sailing past Will Harris on Artemis 77 to get some, but we risked being on the back foot for the start. With just five minutes to the gun, we decided our attack on the line. And we never did get any spoons.
Mike and I had a great start. We were just windward of Nick Cherry’s Redshift, with the rest of the Figaro fleet behind. A tight race ensued as we exited the Solent, going head-to-head for the lead with Redshift.
Alongside Hurst Castle and on the lay line for the Needles Fairway – the only mark on our course before France – Mike’s skills really shone. We sailed fast and the shortest course possible, Mike on the helm and me trimming the sails. We were working well as a team. When the breeze increased to over 15 knots - I got a lovely hosing on the bow preparing the spinnaker for hoist.
Our strategy for the Channel crossing could be summed up in three points:
1 – Boatspeed. There was an awkward chop so Mike suggested sailing higher as it was easier to keep the sails stable and the boat moving.
2. Tidal strategy. The tide was going from right to left, so being on starboard was quicker. There were times when we had to be on port gybe so deciding the right moment for this was crucial, but Mike’s experience helped us make the right moves.
3. Covering the fleet. The main advantage of leading a race is that to beat you to the finish, the other boats must sail around you. Covering their moves and keeping your boat between them and the next mark can limit their opportunities to overtake. This is easy to manage with one boat, but less so when they are coming at you from all different directions.
Developing these strategies and thinking them through together really brought home to me the value of having Mike on board. With no prior Figaro experience, he was able to bring new ideas to the race. Every move I wanted to make, he would question and counter, suggesting alternatives that suited his own sailing experience. We bounced ideas off each other, critiquing one another to find the most efficient manoeuvres and tactics. The race – like all yacht races - was about compromise, and our teamwork was invaluable.
Pushing us really hard however, Alan Roberts on Magma Structures soon caught up. Neither Mike nor I got any sleep through the night, as Roberts and the fleet behind him piled on the pressure.
Finally we rounded the breakwater off Cherbourg Harbour and aimed the boat for the finish line. We finished at 0544, happy to be the first Figaro to France, unaware we’d won the IRC 2 handicap class.
After heading ashore for a spot of ‘petit-déjeuner’, we began our delivery back to Cowes. En route back , I got a call from Rob Bunce, delivering the news we’d won the class. The Figaro doesn’t rate very well in the handicap, so it was fantastic to have secured this result – and I had Mike to thank for that. Some hours later, I woke up to a sunset rounding of the Needles - the perfect conclusion to the race.
Sailing with Mike taught me a lot. Undoubtedly, his second opinion won us the race. Having two sets of ideas forced us to debate and then, implement the best of both options. Watching him sail helped me understand more too – observing the points at which he was calm and stressed taught me more about his priorities aboard the boat.
We discussed not only this race but others – past and future - along the way. Hearing his Vendée stories and his Extreme 40 experiences gave me confidence that I’m on the right track. I’m a lot more confident in my abilities after sailing with him, and I look forward to sailing in the IRC Nationals with him later this month.
I almost forgot…his home-made stew scored a solid nine out of ten, despite having eaten it sharing a single teaspoon.

RORC Cherbourg race IRC2 Figaro Results
Position/Boat name/Crew
1. Artemis 23/Andrew Baker, Mike Golding
4. Magma Structures/Alan Roberts, Ian Baylis
6. Chatham Marine/Sam Matson, Hugh Brayshaw
8. Redshift/Nick Cherry, Ed Fishwick
14. Artemis 77/Will Harris, Sam Jacklin

The penultimate race of the RORC Season's Points championship produced a dramatic finale to the club's domestic season. Whilst the overall and class winners will not be finalised until after next month's Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Cherbourg race all but sealed victory for the seven classes racing under IRC for the season. Géry Trentesaux's JPK 10.80, Courrier Du Leon is the overall leader with just one race to go.

Piet Vroon's Ker 53, Tonnerre 4 scored a hatrick of victories in the Cherbourg Race, taking just 6 hours 18 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the 75 nautical mile course, Tonnerre 4 took Line Honours, the overall win under IRC and IRC Zero. The flying Dutchman was over the moon about the victory, which confirmed Tonnerre 4 as the class winner for IRC Zero for the championship.

“She went like a rocket!” exclaimed Piet Vroon, “We realised that there was still pressure ahead of us and we went for speed early on to try to catch it. We passed Géry (Trentesaux) at the Needles Fairway Buoy. He is an excellent sailor and a great friend but I was very happy to beat him! The boat speed went up to 16 knots and we were flying the A2, nearly the whole way. The crew work was excellent, they know exactly how to get the most out of the boat and even though they push it, we hardly ever break anything. The Cherbourg Race has been a lucky one for us in the past and we definitely got the wind that the boats behind did not. Artemis went to the west, whilst we went straight on and that is how we also took line honours, which was a very satisfying way to finish the season. We plan to race Tonnerre in the RORC Caribbean 600, which will be our first offshore race of next year.”

Mikey Ferguson's IMOCA 60, Artemis Ocean Racing was seven minutes behind Tonnerre 4 on the water, to claim second overall under IRC and first in IRC Canting Keel. Edward Broadway's Ker 40, Hooligan VII was third overall and the winner in IRC One. Mike Greville's British Ker 39, Erivale III was second in class one for the Cherbourg Race, giving the past RORC Commodore enough points to retain the class lead for the season.

In IRC Two, British Artemis Offshore Academy sailor, Andrew Baker scored a notable victory, taking Line Honours and the class win. Round the world sailor, Mike Golding was part of the crew. RORC Admiral, Andrew McIrvine’s racing First 40, La Réponse, skippered by Tristan Nelson was second in class with Patrick Ponchelet's French X-40, Exception third. Vincent Willemart and Eric Van Campenhout's MC34, Azawakh was fifth after time correction, giving the Belgian team enough points to take the class lead for the season.

There was an astonishing race in IRC 3, with the entire season of racing being decided by just sixteen seconds. Louis-Marie Dussere's JPK 10.10, Raging Bee, racing two handed with Bruno James, was the class winner. The victory has all but assured Raging Bee of the IRC Two Handed Class for the RORC Season's Points Championship.

Alex Adams' J/105, Voadar was just 16 seconds behind Raging Bee on the water and after time correction with Pascal Loison's JPK 10.10, Night and Day, racing Two Handed, in third, if Night and Day had come second, the French team would have been top of the Two Handed class for the season. Similarly, if Raging Bee had come second, Night and Day would be the Two Handed class leader for the season. Both Louis-Marie Dussere and Bruno James are long standing members of the Yacht Club de Cherbourg and the duo were celebrating in style.

“We knew we had to have a boat between us and Night and Day” commented Louis-Marie Dussere. “As we approached the finish, Voadar was 20 metres ahead of us and we knew we had to pass them. It was very hard but by the finish we were 20 metres in front of them and we were so very very pleased. The atmosphere in the club was fantastic, with so many friends to welcome us and after the Prizegiving we filled the trophy with champagne to toast the victory.”

Six yachts contested the Cherbourg race in the Class40 division; all finishing within an hour of each other, Forty Shades of Grey, skippered by David Pearce was the winner. Concise 2, skippered by Phillippa Hutton-Squire was second and Thibault Hector's Creno Moustache Solidaire was third. During the RORC Season's Points Championship, 28 Class40s have been in action. Tony Lawson's stable of young sailors have had an impressive season with Concise8, skippered by Jack Trigger, and crewed by a team all under 25, with an unassailable lead for the season and Concise 2, crewed predominately by an all girls team, in second. Bertrand Gregory's Rififi is third.

In IRC Four, Christopher Spray's S&S 53 Yawl, Stormy Weather of Cowes was the winner by less than two minutes after time correction from Jonathan Rolls' Swan 38, Xara. Renaud Courbon's First Class 10, Shortgood, racing Two Handed, was third. The classic yachts from the design board of Olin Stephens have enjoyed a highly successful season racing with the RORC. Stormy Weather of Cowes victory in Cherbourg has lifted the team up to third in class for the season. Jonathan Rolls' Swan 38, Xara, also designed by Olin Stephens is second in class for the championship. Noel Racine's JPK 10.10, Foggy Dew retains the lead in IRC Four.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club Season Points Championship will come to a conclusion next month with the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The 606 nautical mile race, starting and finishing in Malta, is expected to attract over 100 yachts from over 20 countries and starts on the 17th October.

For full results of the RORC Cherbourg Race here

#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.