Ireland has not competed in the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup since winning the event in 2010, but today on the Solent the defending champions once removed got off to a strong start in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's biennial flagship event for national teams with amateur crews.

The Emerald Isle has one of the strongest teams competing in Cowes this week, led, as in 2010, by Anthony O'Leary and the Ker 39, Antix, recent winner of the RORC's IRC National Championship. Today's two inshore races were held in light conditions in the southeastern Solent and Antix won both. With additional consistent performances by her Irish team mates, American Marc Glimcher's turboed Ker 40, Catapult, and Michael Boyd and Niall Dowling's Grand Soleil 43, Quokka 8, Ireland now leads the 2014 Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup with a 19 point advantage over GBR Red.

"On Christmas morning you'd say `yes please',"said Anthony O'Leary of Antix's performance. "We got away cleanly in the two starts. We had a nice position on the line and were able to rumble on without interference, which meant we could make our own decisions. The second race was a bit all over the place. But at the moment it is just shadow boxing - the offshore is what is really important." The event's 24-36 hour long offshore race sets sail tomorrow.

Read the complete article on the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup Minisite

Anticipation has been building going into tomorrow's start of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's biennial week-long Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup.

This year's event features nine teams, comprising four from France, one from Ireland and four from Britain (including one from Scotland), two more than 2012. Over the last few days crews from the three boat teams have been putting the finishing touches to their campaigns. The thundery conditions of the last 48 hours have provided some lively moments for boats being delivered to Cowes, with one French boat experiencing 55 knot winds as she crossed the Channel.

As ever the RORC's flagship event for national teams with amateur crews comprises a challenging mix of inshore and offshore racing.

The event kicks off tomorrow (Sunday 20^th July) with two inshore races, the first warning signal at 1055 BST. Over Monday-Tuesday the boats head off on an overnight offshore race, the longest of the regatta (set to last 24-36 hours) and carrying the highest points co-efficient of 2.5. Inshore racing resumes on Wednesday and Thursday followed by a race around the Isle of Wight on Friday, with a 1.5 co-efficient, the event concluding on Saturday with an inshore race carrying a co-efficient of 2. In past years the event has gone to the wire, with the final outcome only decided on the last race.

Read the complete article, see the team lists, results, tracking and photos on the event minisite

Britain returns to the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup as the defending champion following the victory of GBR Red in 2012. Like the French the home nation will be fielding four teams, including a team from Scotland, when racing gets underway this Sunday 20th July in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's biennial week long regatta for amateur national three boat teams.

Compared to previous years the form of the 2014 British teams is harder to judge with many first time competitors. In fact, of the 12 boats, only two competed in 2012. Father and son team, Michael and Seb Blair, are returning with their King 40, Cobra, in GBR Red and David Aisher's J/109, Yeoman of Wight, is back in GBR Blue. One reason for this is due to many boats changing hands - all three of the 2012 GBR Red line-up are in new ownership. However Jonathan Goring, owner of GBR Red's winning Ker 40 Keronimo in 2012, has returned as a Team GBR selector.

For more information please see the event minisite [Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup 2014: Team GBR Returning Defenders]

Congratulations to the RORC Ladies Team who finished in First Place at the Royal Yacht Squadron Inter Club Sailing Regatta in Cowes on Saturday 12^th and Sunday 13^th July 2014.

They did spectacularly well and you can read a report of the event from Helm/Team Captain and RORC Member Laetitia Mason below;

The Royal Yacht Squadron invited various yacht clubs from around London and the South Coast to participate in the first of its kind, all women, 2 boat team racing. Upon invitation, I jumped at the chance to pull together a team of girls with (and some without) team racing experience for what seemed to be a fun event. The RYS is opening its doors to women members and alongside that, all women events as well.

The overall winner of the race, under IRC, was Eric Gicquel's J/133, Black Jack, skippered by Nils Boyer. François Lognoné's J/122, Nutmeg - Sparkling Charter, also from St.Malo, was second with Bruno James' Sunfast 3200, Le MC Do De Cherbourg, third overall and winner of the Two-Handed Class.

Nils Boyer, Black Jack's skipper, was born in St.Malo and, under the pupilage of Franck-Yves Escoffier, is one of the rising stars in French solo sailing. Nils Boyer's goal is to participate in the Route Du Rhum and his dream is to win the transatlantic race that starts from his home town of St.Malo. Nils Boyer will be racing across the Atlantic this November in L'eau de là, from St.Malo to Guadeloupe, West Indies.

"Winning the Cowes-Dinard-St.Malo is magical," smiled Nils. "Black Jack is a young team all from the Sociéte Nautique de la Baie de St Malo and the champagne will be flowing with all our family and friends tonight. I have been part of teams that have won a class in the race on four occasions but this is the first time that I have won the trophy overall. L'eau de là is an association of young sailors, 16-20 years of age, and to win this prestigious trophy in our home town is fantastic".

Row2Recovery

Monday 28^th July 2014
RORC London Clubhouse
19.00

On the 5^th December 2013 the Row2Recovery Crew set out from La Gomera to row 3000 nautical miles across the Atlantic to Antigua. Taking part in the biennial Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge the crew began a race against 16 other boats. This is the story of how the 4-man military crew (2 able bodies and 2 amputees) overcame horrific weather, fatigue, sores, capsize and men overboard to exceed all expectations and finish 3^rd after 48 days at sea.

Captain James Kaylll, Corporal Scott Blaney & Lance Corporal Cayle Royce will present videos, images and stories from their crossing and also talk openly about their injuries and route to recovery.

Free for members, £10 for non-members. All proceeds will go to Help for Heroes and any donations will be appreciated.
A two course menu will be available at £15 per person following the presentation.

To book your place please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call +44 (0)207 493 2248.

The Flag Officers and Committee of the Royal Ocean Racing Club request the pleasure of your company at the

COWES COCKTAIL PARTY

Wednesday 6^th August 2014
In the Pavilion at the Royal Yacht Squadron
Garden Gate Entrance, The Castle, Cowes, Isle of Wight
18.30 - 20.00

Tickets:
£25 (per person) for members and their spouse; £30 (per person) for non-members
Ticket price includes wine, Pimms & soft drinks with accompanying canapes & live music.

To book please complete the booking form and return it via,

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Fax: +44 (0)207 493 5252; Post: 20 St. James's Place, London, SW1A 1NN; or Telephone: +44 (0)207 493 2248.

Dress Code: Jacket and Tie

Having won the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup in 2010, Ireland was unable to mount a campaign to defend its title in 2012, but this year they are returning to Cowes for the RORC's biennial regatta for amateur national three boat teams, over 19th-26th July, with one of the strongest line-ups taking part.

In recent years, while France and Britain have entered large numbers of boats into the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup, Ireland's efforts have been notable for achieving top results but with a smaller but more powerful line-up. In 2006 they fielded three teams with Ireland Green coming home second to the French while, in 2008, Ireland was favourite going into the regatta but its two teams ended up second and third to GBR Red. Finally in 2010 it was third time lucky. The single Irish team dominated the regatta, finishing well ahead of Hong Kong and France.

This year's line-up continues this theme, with former Vice Commodore of the RORC Anthony O'Leary resuming his duties as Irish team leader and skipper of his Ker 39, Antix. The Irish `big boat' is American Marc Glimcher's turbo charged Ker 40, Catapult, while making up the trio is a former IRC Nationals winner, Peter Rutter's Grand Soleil 43, Quokka 8, chartered for the occasion by Niall Dowling and present RORC Vice Commodore Michael Boyd.

Read the full article on the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup minisite

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season's Points Championship continues this weekend with close to 80 yachts competing in the Cowes-Dinard-St Malo Race. Teams from Belgium, France, Great Britain and The Netherlands will race across the English Channel to the famous walled port of St Malo in Brittany, France. The 175 mile race pre-dates the Royal Ocean Racing Club by almost 20 years, with the overall winner awarded the impressive, gold plated, King Edward VII Cup, which was first presented by the British monarch to the Club Nautique de la Rance at Dinard in 1906.

Andrew Budgen and Fred Schwyn's Volvo 70, Monster Project, was in fine form during last month's Round Ireland Yacht Race, taking Line Honours and the win in IRC Canting Keel. Monster Project is favourite to be the first monohull to finish in St Malo although the IMOCA 60, Artemis Team Endeavour skippered by Mikey Ferguson, is also very capable of taking the gun.