The RORC announced today a change to the safety requirements for the RORC Easter Challenge and IRC National Championship.

Commenting on the change RORC Racing Manager Ian Loffhagen said: “We have relaxed the safety requirements to make it easier for smaller inshore orientated boats to enter our inshore regattas.  Competing yachts will not need to carry a trysail or the alternative mainsail with a deep reef.  The RORC is keen to attract some of the smaller inshore boats like the J80 to compete and we hope this change will make it easier for them to race with us.  The RORC is well known for its high safety standards and is confident that this change will not compromise safety for boats racing in the Solent.”

Apart from this change the regattas remain ISAF Offshore Special Regulations Category 4 events and the RORC may conduct spot checks.

Extract from Amendment No 2 to the 2010 RORC Programme:

SPECIAL REGULATIONS: OSR 4.26 Storm & Heavy Weather Sails – OSR 4.26.4 (g) either a storm trysail as defined in OSR 4.26.4(c), or mainsail with reefing to reduce the luff by at least 40% will NOT apply.