RORC Cowes Offshore Series Returns With Seven Classics

28th April 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Solent Charge: RORC fleet races through the Western Solent approaching The Needles during offshore series action, with tight formations and steady breeze shaping the contest Credit: Paul Wyeth/RORC

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has confirmed details of its 2026 Cowes Offshore Series, featuring seven races from the Solent. The series offers a mix of accessible offshore racing and established classics, with the best five results to count towards the overall standings.

All races start from Cowes. Crews range from Corinthian teams to experienced offshore campaigners. Among the highlights are three of the club’s most historic events: the Myth of Malham, the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race and the Channel Race.

The Myth of Malham follows the early stages of the Rolex Fastnet Race route, heading west towards the Eddystone Lighthouse before returning to the Solent. The Cowes Dinard St Malo Race remains one of the premier cross-Channel contests. The overall IRC winner is awarded the King Edward VII Challenge Cup, first presented in 1906. The Channel Race, first run in 1928, was originally designed as a shorter alternative to the Fastnet Race and later became part of the Admiral’s Cup programme.

RORC says the series is designed to allow crews to “build experience, test themselves offshore and take on some of the most rewarding races” in its calendar. Competitors also have access to the RORC Cowes Clubhouse, including accommodation, dining and the Fastnet Bar. A crew supper is planned before each race and is open to teams, friends, and family.

The series continues to combine competitive racing with the club’s long-standing offshore traditions.

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)