300 sailors applied for the RORC Griffin24 programme, and 20 sailors were selected and took part in six races during 2024. The project has one main aim: To encourage young people into the sport of offshore racing. Over the years, through the generosity of RORC members, the Griffin Fund has assisted in providing race boats and experienced sailors to improve young sailors’ understanding of offshore racing.
Two Northern Ireland sailors were among those selected as was Joseph Griffiths from Baltimore in West Cork.
The RORC also offered all of the sailors opportunities through Crew Match on SailRaceHQ.
In December 2023, Jim Driver was elected Chair of Griffin. With funding from RORC, Sun Fast 30 One Designs were chartered from Cap Regatta. FourthCape, a Cowes based sailing project management company headed by Charles Darbyshire, was chosen to run Griffin training and selection weekends to form a new Griffin Team for the 2024 season. The Griffin24 Project was born.
In total, 300 sailors applied for the Griffin24 programme. The sailors came from all over the UK, Europe, and the United States, with a wide range of experience from dinghy sailing to offshore racing and blue water cruising. In total 10 nationalities were represented at the selection events and about 50% were women. 20 sailors were selected for the Griffin24 squad, coached by a group of world-class sailors, including Dee Caffari, Shirley Robertson, Steve Hayles, Ronan Grealish and Ian Walker.
"It has been fantastic to skipper the team in this final race and to see the hard work and dedication coming to fruition," commented Rosie Hill, who skippered one of the Griffin Teams in the Drheam Cup. "The team has gone from strength to strength, and completing this race as a four has been a highlight. Several ‘character building’ moments this season have starkly contrasted the ‘whisky moments’ of beautiful sunsets and laughter onboard. I have enjoyed taking on the huge amount of trust and responsibility which comes with offshore sailing and bringing a team together. I am immensely grateful to have been given such an awesome opportunity by RORC. With Jim Driver at the helm, I look forward to following the continued success of the now highly regarded Griffin Project," Rosie Hill and the Griffin 007 team concluded.
