RORC Rating Office Appoints Rob Taylor as Deputy Director

8th July 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Fresh Perspective: Rob Taylor has joined the RORC Rating Office as Deputy Director, bringing extensive expertise in yacht measurement, regulation, offshore racing and naval architecture Credit: RORC

The RORC Rating Office has appointed Rob Taylor as Deputy Director, with the role taking effect from 7 July.

Taylor joins the office to strengthen its technical, regulatory and international expertise across IRC rating, safety and race management services. He will support the delivery of technical and measurement services, help develop the IRC and YTC rating systems, and work with stakeholders across the sport. His role also includes representing the RORC Rating Office at major events and supporting governance, compliance and safety standards.

A qualified naval architect, Taylor joins from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, where he served as Code Vessel Lead and helped develop regulations for small commercial and recreational vessels. He is also a member of the RORC Technical Committee and has previously held senior positions with World Sailing and the Royal Yachting Association. During that time, he worked on racing rules, measurement and equipment compliance at five Olympic Games, as well as World and Continental Championships.

Taylor also brings extensive offshore racing experience, including the Rolex Fastnet Race, Round Ireland Race, Round Britain & Ireland Race and Commodores' Cup campaigns.

Commenting on his appointment, Taylor said: "I'm delighted to be joining the RORC Rating Office and to be back working at the heart of the sport. The Rating Office plays a unique and vital role in yacht racing, and I'm looking forward to contributing to its continued development and supporting the racing community."

The RORC Rating Office said the appointment further strengthens its technical capability as it continues to support fair, safe and trusted racing, from club competition to leading international offshore events.

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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)