RORC Cervantes Trophy Race Opens 2026 Offshore Season

17th April 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Classic Contender – Andrew Tseng’s Nicholson 55 Quailo III powers through the Solent swell, bringing classic design and offshore pedigree to the RORC Cervantes Trophy Race Credit: Paul Wyeth

Offshore racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) returns with the Cervantes Trophy Race on Saturday, 2 May. The early-season fixture starts from Cowes on the Isle of Wight and sends the fleet west before finishing in Le Havre, Normandy.

The race marks the opening event of the 2026 RORC Cowes Offshore Series and contributes to the Season’s Points Championship. Victory will be decided on corrected time under IRC, with trophies awarded across all classes.

Early entries include Graeme Lewis’ CM60 Venomous, last year’s IRC Zero winner, and Trevor Middleton’s JPK 1180 Django, making its RORC debut. Rob Craigie and RORC Commodore Deb Fish return with Sun Fast 3600 Bellino, aiming to extend their strong record after three consecutive championship titles. Sam White and Sam North will also compete doublehanded aboard JPK 1080 Mzungu!, renewing their rivalry with Bellino.

In IRC Three, contrasting designs will line up. Andrew Tseng’s 1971 Nicholson 55 Quailo III will race against the modern Sun Fast 3600 RORC Griffin.

The Griffin will be skippered by Nuala Sellwood, leading an under-25 crew as part of the club’s development pathway. “The Cervantes Trophy is the first real opportunity to put all of our Griffin training into practice,” said Sellwood. “It’s a building block towards the Round Britain and Ireland Race.”She added that preparation has focused on teamwork and performance. “If we can perform consistently and learn, that’s a strong start to the season.”

Tseng highlighted the contrast between the two boats but noted shared fundamentals. “Good offshore racing still comes down to sailing skill, knowing your boat and working as a team,” he said.

Cowes to Le Havre — The 2026 Cervantes Trophy Race opens the RORC offshore season

Racing is expected to be closely contested despite differences in design, with IRC handicapping continuing to deliver competitive fleets. The first start is scheduled for 12:00 BST, with live tracking and results available online throughout the race.

Published in RORC, Offshore

Published in RORC

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THE RORC:

Established in 1925, The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) became famous for the biennial Fastnet Race and the international team event, the Admiral's Cup. It organises an annual series of domestic offshore races from its base in Cowes as well as inshore regattas including the RORC Easter Challenge and the IRC European Championship (includes the Commodores' Cup) in the Solent
The RORC works with other yacht clubs to promote their offshore races and provides marketing and organisational support. The RORC Caribbean 600, based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, has been an instant success. The 10th edition took place in February 2018. The RORC extended its organisational expertise by creating the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada, the first of which was in November 2014
The club is based in St James' Place, London, but after a merger with The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes now boasts a superb clubhouse facility at the entrance to Cowes Harbour and a membership of over 4,000

At A Glance – RORC

RORC Race Enquiries:

Royal Ocean Racing Club T: +44 (0) 1983 295144 E: [email protected] W: http://www.rorc.org/

Royal Ocean Racing Club:

20 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NN, Tel: 020 7493 2248 E: [email protected]

2026 RORC Key dates

Key RORC 2026 dates extracted from the programme:

January–February 2026
• 11 January – RORC Transatlantic Race (Lanzarote to Antigua)
• February (dates vary) – Nelson’s Cup, Antigua
• 23 February – RORC Caribbean 600

May 2026
• 2 May – Cervantes Trophy Race (Cowes to Le Havre)
• 15 May – North Sea Race
• 22–25 May – IRC European Championships, International Poole Regatta
• 23 May – Myth of Malham Race
• 30 May – De Guingand Bowl Race

June 2026
• 12 June – Morgan Cup (Cowes to Dartmouth)
• 20 June – Round Ireland Race (Wicklow)

July 2026
• 3 July – Cowes–Dinard–Saint Malo Race
• 25 July – Channel Race

August 2026
• 8 August – Baltic Sea Race (Helsinki)
• 9 August – Round Britain and Ireland Race (Cowes)
• 26–29 August – IRC National Championship (Dartmouth)

September 2026
• 4 September – Cherbourg Race

October 2026
• 17 October – Rolex Middle Sea Race (counts towards 2027 championship)