Sunday was a sparkling day off Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; perfect conditions for the start of the 26^th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). The wind was NNE 15 knots and a steep swell was coming around the north end of the island. The course is simple: Leave Gran Canaria to starboard and Pigeon Island off Saint Lucia to port, to Rodney Bay, a distance of 2700 miles.

Three of the boats sailing under IRC started at 1230 in the open division as they are too big for the racing divisions. The veteran Whitbread Rothmans, now under the Swedish flag, led the way, with the trimaran Rayon Vert (FRA) crossing ahead of the other two, Med Sprit (ex Bols) and J-P Chomette's Oceans Seven2, the biggest boat in the event.

Fifteen minutes later saw the start of the IRC racing divisions which are run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). The fleet of 23 was lead across the line by the Swan 56 Clem (ESP) closely followed by the Akilaria 40 Vaquita (AUT). The IMX-45 Maline (NOR) and the extensively campaigned and familiar Scarlet Oyster (GBR) just nosing in front of the next five yachts, all flying spinnakers, that crossed the line together.

The ARC crossing record is 11 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds, set by Italian maxi yacht Capricorno (Rinaldo Del Bono), in 2006. Two boats with very different concepts, Med Spirit and Rayon Vert are both known to have an eye on beating it should the favourable conditions hold for the whole of the crossing.

The ARC fleet of 217 are all fitted with Yellowbrick trackers and many, including yachts that are racing, are submitting daily logs. Their progress may be followed on the tracking page.

Keep track of the latest news from the race on the World Cruising Club website

Putting an end to the drought of Maltese winners, the J/122 Artie, co-skippered by Lee Satariano and Christian Ripard, was named the overall winner of the 2011 Rolex Middle Sea Race today. Artie completed the 606-nautical mile course in an elapsed time of 4 days, 4 hours, 22 minutes, 54 seconds. The last time a local boat won this ocean classic was in 2002 when the 35-footer, Market Wizard took top honours.

This year's race once again proved it could be a small boat affair with the top three boats - Artie, AOC Rockall (the German Corby 36), and Otra Vez (another Maltese J/122) - all under 40 feet. Since 2002 half of the overall winners have been drawn from the most competitive maxi and mini-maxis around including Rambler, Morning Glory, Nokia, Alegre, and Atalanta II, all ranging in size from 65 to 90 feet in length and suggesting a big boat bias. Artie has redressed the balance a little.

After finishing second overall in 2006 and 2010, owner Lee Satariano was clearly pleased with his first overall win,"It's a moment to enjoy - it is a dream come true. Since 2002 the fleet has grown bigger, the competition is tremendous. The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a beautiful track. The race is one you can never forget -every year something challenges you to go back out and enjoy the race."

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is delighted to announce Brewin Dolphin as the new Title Sponsor for the 11th Commodores' Cup sailing championship, which is run, with the support of the Royal Yacht Squadron, between Saturday 21^st and Saturday 28^th July 2012.

Jamie Matheson, Brewin Dolphin Executive Chairman comments:
"We are proud to add such a prestigious event as the Commodores' Cup to our portfolio and look forward to building a long term relationship with the Royal Ocean Racing Club, its members and competitors. We are not newcomers to the world of sailing, having successfully sponsored the Scottish Series for the past 11 years. Sailing has provided us with an excellent platform to increase awareness of our brand to a wider audience and we are confident that the Commodores' Cup will develop this."

Matheson continues: "The Royal Ocean Racing Club as organisers and the Commodores' Cup series has its own rich heritage and this fits well with Brewin Dolphin as our firm goes back two and a half centuries. Although we can trace our beginnings back to the mid 18th Century, we look forward to investing in new beginnings with this sponsorship, helping to attract new teams and a positive long term partnership for future events."

Read the Complete Article

Rán - RORC Yacht of the Year

British Soldier - Best Performance of a British Yacht Overseas

Tonnerre de Breskens 3 - IRC Overall

2011 - An Outstanding Year for RORC Racing

When the 300 places for the Rolex Fastnet Race were filled within 10 days of the entries opening, it became obvious that 2011 would be a notable year for offshore racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC).

With 300 miles of offshore racing required from each boat before the start of the Fastnet, the early season races were well subscribed with entries and over 100 boats entered three of the qualifying races.

Hopes of an easy qualification for the main race of the season (Rolex Fastnet) were dashed by the weather early on. Strong winds and lumpy seas characterised the races and tested the crews and their yachts thoroughly.

Yacht of the Year - Somerset Memorial Trophy: Rán, JV 72 - Niklas Zennström (GBR)

The Somerset Memorial Trophy for the Yacht of the Year for 2011 has been awarded to Niklas Zennström's JV 72, Rán. Niklas and his crew have had an outstanding season, winning IRC Overall in the Rolex Fastnet Race in consecutive years, the first time this has been achieved since Carina II in 1955 and 1957. Rán also won the Rolex Mini Maxi World Series for the second year in the row as well as obtaining a good result in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race. Rán is currently planning to head to the Caribbean over the winter to race and the team are looking forward to competing in the RORC Caribbean 600.

The Advance Notice of Race for the 2012 edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 Race has been published.

Start: Monday 20th February 2012
First Warning Signal: 1050
(all times are in local time)
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Antigua Yacht Club

Advance Notice of Race 132 Kb 06/10/2011

Antigua: Monday February 20^th 2012

Online entry for the 4^th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Caribbean 600 is now open.

Offshore in the Caribbean
The RORC Caribbean 600, run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with Antigua Yacht Club, is the only offshore race of the Caribbean series and since its conception in 2009, has become a firm favourite with offshore racers seeking a tactical challenge in warm Caribbean conditions. The 2012 edition will witness an impressive line-up of yachts starting from Antigua on Monday 20^th February.

The fleet will battle the 600nm course which circumnavigates 11 Caribbean Islands starting from Fort Charlotte, English Harbour, Antigua and heading north as far as St Martin and south to Guadeloupe taking in Barbuda, Nevis, St Kitts, Saba and St Barth's. Perfect racing in perfect conditions.

Complete article on the race minisite

RORC team finish 7th overall and first European Team

RORC Commodore Andrew McIrvine was delighted with their 5th place result in the 11th and final race of an absorbing contest for the New York Yacht Club 'Invitational Cup' sponsored by Rolex and held in Swan 42's.

"It has been an amazing event and the racing has been really tight all the way through" commented McIrvine "The last race was really tricky but we managed a 5th and ended up as the first European team at 7th overall which we are really delighted with"

After a wet and windy season the weather gods conjured up a new and unusual challenge for the finale of the RORC 2011 season: light airs and thick fog. Speaking after the race the overall winner, RORC Vice Commodore, Mike Greville said that it was a good and challenging tactical race. "The combination of thick fog and light patchy breeze made it really difficult to sail to the wind. The instruments were not a lot of help because of the wind sheer and we struggled to see the tell tales in the thick fog in the dark. The secret of our success, apart from keeping the boat moving, was our decision to go west. There was more breeze and at a better angle particularly as we closed the finish at Cherbourg."

The fog also caused the race committee problems at the start and the RIB at the outer distance mark was invaluable in checking for OCS boats. The wind was westerly force 3 and the fleet were just able to carry their kites. Exiting the Solent to the East there were large holes in the wind to spot and avoid off Bembridge.

Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Yacht Club de Cherbourg and the Royal Yacht Squadron.

START: Friday 2^nd September from the RYS Cowes, to the East. FIRST WARNING SIGNAL: 1850. COURSE: Direct to Cherbourg - Approximately 78 miles

After a record breaking Rolex Fastnet Race, the final race of the RORC Season's Points Championship takes place this weekend. After a scintillating season of racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club, current weather models predict a light airs race, in sharp contrast to a very windy season.

In IRC Zero Derek Saunders' CM 60, Venomous, has already clinched the class title but no doubt the team will be celebrating in style in Cherbourg, as this is their first series win with the yacht after three years of trying.

Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens, has already wrapped up the class win in IRC One and after competing in nine races this season, the sky blue flyer is sitting out the race to Cherbourg. However, in IRC Two Neil Kipling's J/122, Joopster, needs to get a result against Ross Appleby's Oyster 48, Scarlet Oyster, to be sure of the season win. Neither of these yachts has won their class for the RORC Season's Points Championship before but the conditions and the points favour Joopster to take their first RORC Season's Points Championship win.

Records tumbled in the 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race, this year's event living up to its reputation as the most gruelling and tactically challenging of the classic offshore races.

This is your chance to discuss how the race went with other compeitors and analyse the course itself.

Venue: Wednesday, 31st August at 1900 in the Clubhouse, 20 St James's Place.

Tickets are free for members and £10 for non-members.

A two course buffet will be available at £15 per person.

To book, please call Emma Sherborne on 0207 493 2248 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .