Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club since 1929, the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race is a true RORC Classic. For the 2024 edition, over 100 boats will be in action, and they will be crewed by over 500 sailors from at least 18 different countries. Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, Cowes, IOW, from 1100 BST on Friday 5th July, a magnificent spectacle can be watched from The Parade, Cowes.
This year’s race is also the first scoring race for the IRC Double-Handed European Championship. The two-handed teams come from all over Europe and the United States.
The Cowes Dinard St Malo Race is part of the RORC Season’s Points Championship, the world’s largest offshore racing series. Dating back to 1906, the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race precedes all of the world’s famous 600-mile races including the Fastnet Race. In recent years the RORC race to St Malo has become one of the world’s most popular offshore yacht races.
A previous Cowes Dinard St Malo Race start Photo Paul Wyeth
Favourite for Monohull Line Honours and the Sandison Memorial Salver is Eric De Turckheim’s NMD54 Teasing Machine (FRA) which is racing in IRC Zero. Teasing Machine was in fine form in June, winning the SSE Renewables Round Ireland Race, overall under IRC (pictured top).
Three Multihulls will race in the MOCRA Class and for The Dinard Trophy, the prize for the first Multihull to finish. Thierry Roger’s trimaran BlackCap (FRA), Didier Bouillard’s Dazcat 1295 Minor Swing (GBR), and James Holder’s Grainger 36 Uno (GBR). Two Class40s will be in action, Daniel Jones’ Gambit (GBR) and Marc Lepesqueux's Sensation (FRA).
Milon 41 L'Ange de Milon Photo Paul Wyeth
IRC One
In excess of twenty boats from all-over Europe are expected to be racing in IRC One, the fastest on IRC rating is Alastair Shanks Finot Conq 44 Tallytoo (GBR). Top French competition will come from octogenarian Jacques Pelletier racing his Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA) which was second in class last year. J/133 Pintia Coyote (FRA) has four French Grand Masters on board; co-owner Gilles Fournier, Bruno Troublé, Jean-François Bentz and Patrice Roynette. Pintia has been renamed ‘Coyote’ for the race as the above all raced Coyote in the 1985 Admiral’s Cup for France.
J/133 Pintia Coyote Photo: Paul Wyeth
Tom Kneen’s JPK 1180 Sunrise III (GBR), overall winner of the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race, will be back in action. Derek Shakespeare’s J/122 Bulldog (GBR), overall winner of the De Guingand Bowl Race, will be on the start line.
Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster Photo: Rick Tomlinson
IRC Two
The full 2023 IRC Two Class podium for the race will be in action including Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR), Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo (GBR) and François Lognone’s Patton 34 Nutmeg VI (FRA), which is from St Malo and is the highest rated boat under IRC. Both Scarlet Oyster and Nutmeg VI are previous overall winners of the race. Paul Archer’s JPK 1080 Play (FRA) was class winner in 2022.
Sun Fast 30 Griffin 009 Photo: Paul Wyeth
The RORC Griffin Youth Squad will be back in action racing identical Sun Fast 30 One Designs. Cap Polaris will be co-skippered by German Charlotte Schneider & Ireland’s Joe Walters. Cap Sela will be skippered by Ireland’s Matt Beecher. Double Olympic Gold medallist Jonathan McKee will be racing Sun Fast 3300 Red Ruby (USA) double-handed with co-skipper Alyosha Strum-Palerm.
Over 100 boats for the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race Photo: Paul Wyeth
Tim Goodhew & Kelvin Matthews racing Sun Fast 3200 Cora (GBR) has been on fine form this season, placing the duo in second place after four races in IRC Three. Rob Cotterill’s J/109 Mojo Risin’ (GBR) is third in IRC Three for the season and will be racing with a full crew to St Malo. Mark Brown’s JPK 1010 Jetpack (GBR) was class runner up last year and will be looking to go one better for 2024. Chris Agace’s Sun Fast 3300 Atomic (GBR) is co-skippered by Klaus Rasmusen. With an aluminium mast and no water ballast, Atomic is the only Sun Fast 3300 to rate low enough for IRC Three and carries the highest rating in the class.
Swan 38 Xara Photo: Paul Wyeth
IRC Four
Classic and vintage yachts in IRC Four include last year’s class champion Jonathan Rolls Swan 38 Xara (GBR). In 2022, Henri Vergnoux’s 1966 John Illingworth designed 33ft sloop Arabel, scored the best corrected time under IRC, winning the impressive King Edward VII Challenge Cup. Will & Jenny Taylor-Jones’ S&S 39 Sunstone (GBR) has an impressive history with wins over the decades and is second in IRC Four for the season. Florent Le Sage’s Omega 34 Elendyl returns, having placed third in class for the race in 2023.
King Edward VI Challenge Cup Photo: Louay Habib/RORC
The RORC Cowes Dinard St Malo Race awards a plethora of prestigious prizes to IRC Classes, MOCRA Multihulls and special awards. The overall winner under IRC receives the King Edward VII Challenge Cup, originally donated by His Majesty in 1906. Once at the finish, competitors can enjoy the party atmosphere of Bastille Day as celebrations begin in the historic walled city, culminating in a superb firework display.
