The 2013 Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season's Points Championship is set for the biggest turnout since the series began in 2000. Every edition of the championship has attracted hundreds of yachts, however this year buoyed by the Rolex Fastnet Race, over 400 yachts will be racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

Whilst the Rolex Fastnet is the showcase race of the 2013 series, there are 13 testing races that make up the championship with the best five results counting for the overall winner. Trying to win the RORC Season's Points Championship is a real challenge but every race has its own coveted prize for the overall winner and class honours.

Since 2000 only one yacht, Piet Vroon's Tonnerre de Breskens, has won the Season's Points Championship twice (2010 and 2011) and only on one occasion has it been awarded to a yacht 50' or over, Cookson 50 Chieftain (2006). More often than not, a production yacht, crewed by amateur sailors, wins the RORC Season's Points Championship, arguably the most competitive and popular offshore series in the world.

Friday 29 March to Sunday 31 March 2013

With many of the UK's top IRC boats signed up to compete over three days at the popular RORC Easter Challenge, the regatta is turning into a practice session for the highly competitive IRC Nationals taking place later this summer:

"I am impressed with the quality of the early entries to our training weekend at Easter which starts on Good Friday, 29^th March," comments RORC Racing Manager, Nick Elliott.

"These are the top race boats in the UK and include teams from the Solent, the East Coast and West Country, as well as teams from as far away as France, Ireland and even South Africa. This is a great endorsement for the event which is designed as a training weekend for those keen to improve their overall performance."

Clubs and sailing event organisers all over Great Britain are gearing up for another busy IRC racing season, and none more so than those hosting one of the GBR IRC Regional Championships in 2013.

Each Autumn sailing clubs vie to have their event sanctioned by the GBR IRC Owners' Committee as an official IRC Regional Championship the following year, and competition can be fierce. In 2013 there will be five Regional Championships run under the Spinlock IRC rating rule, in addition to the annual IRC National Championship and Small Boat Championship.

The following events offer British sailors fantastic inter-club and open competition, as well as a shot at the title of 'Class Regional Champion' as a bonus.

It will soon be time to go sailing again and anyone wanting to have a go at IRC racing, whilst also benefitting from some personal and practical coaching, can count on the RORC Easter Challenge to deliver the goods over the Easter Bank Holiday (29th-31st March).

In addition to offering a unique training ground for owners and crews, the RORC Easter Challenge is the first Solent regatta in 2013 where owners who only compete occasionally can race under IRC at a reduced cost. British owners will be able to enter this event with the new Spinlock IRC Limited Validity (LV) TCC which is valid for the full three days of the regatta. Click for more information on the Spinlock IRC Limited Validity (LV) TCCs.

RORC Increase Entries to Rolex Fastnet Race

Extra Capacity for Rolex Fastnet Race as Plymouth Yacht Haven selected as host port

RORC Increases number of entries to satisfy demand

With the entry limit of 300 filled within 24 hours, over 100 boats on the waiting list and entries from multihulls, IMOCA 60s and Class 40s still coming in, demand for places in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race have been greater than ever. To answer this unprecedented demand the RORC has decided to increase the number of places available for IRC rated boats by an extra 40 places, to 340. The addition of multihulls, IMOCAs, Class40s and Figaros IIs could easily bring the total fleet to 380 boats and to cope with this the club has decided to move the event to Plymouth Yacht Haven which has the capacity to supply the extra berthing that is needed.

Race updates for the 2013 edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 will be posted on the RORC Caribbean Minisite.

Visit the site for the latest news, blogs from the boats, results and tracking.

Latest Update: A Party to Remember 23.02.2013 1600 UTC

Take me to the Minisite!

Over 50 yachts will be competing for the 5th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600. The Royal Ocean Racing Club's latest ocean race has proved an irresistible temptation to an international set of yacht owners and crew representing nations from an incredible 28 different countries: Antigua, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, French Southern Territories, Germany, Great Britain, Guadeloupe, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America.

Warm trade winds, Caribbean swell and a challenging course are a fabulous combination and well over 500 sailors are rubbing their hands with relish at the prospect of blasting around 11 Caribbean islands in heavenly sailing conditions.

Read the complete article on the RORC Caribbean 600 Minisite

When: 16th - 17th February 2013

Where: Ocean Safety, Saxon Wharf, Lower York Street, Southampton. SO14 5QR

As a full season of offshore races, including the Rolex Fastnet Race, are looming on the horizon, now is the time to check your safety equipment is in proper working order.

Ocean Safety, in association with Yachting Monthly, is holding a liferaft servicing open weekend where their trained service engineers will be able to examine your liferafts and lifejackets. There will be experts on hand from Jonbuoy, ICOM, Seafire, Kannad, Para anchor & Kru to discuss and advise on all types of safety equipment including liferafts, lifejackets, EPIRBs, MOB aids, parachute anchors and flares. There will also be a live flare and R10 AIS PLB demonstration.

To book your liferaft service slot please ring +44 (0)23 80 720 800 or email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please click here to download the event poster.

The ongoing success of the RC600 has much to thank in the stunning scenery and conditions provided by the Caribbean. From turquoise waters to tropical islands our photographers have captured the competitors enjoying the elements that entice them back year after year. Therefore, both Sevenstar Yacht Transport and the RORC judge it fitting to celebrate the 5th `birthday' of the RORC Caribbean 600 with a contest to find our favourite photos of the event thus far!

Every Monday until the race start, we are unveiling on Facebook an album of 12 fantastic shots from the RORC Caribbean 600, from which we ask you to pick your favourite.

Vote for your favourite photo from this week's contest here and view the RORC Facebook page here for past contest winners, albums and more.

RORC Crew Match - New Date

The RORC Crew Match event will now take place at 1900 on Friday 1^st February 2013 at the RORC London Clubhouse.

Venue - Royal Ocean Racing Club, 20 St James's Place, London, SW1A 1NN

Whether you are RORC members or not you will be most welcome to join us at the RORC Crew Match:

• An evening for owners/skippers to meet and recruit potential crew for the season ahead
• An opportunity for crew to make contact with owners and/or skippers
• Swap experiences and compare skills with other sailors
• Open to both private yacht owners and commercial projects

To make the most of this evening we recommend:

• Crew bring a copy of their sailing CV to hand out including contact details
• Owners and skippers have information on their yachts and requirements

If you are interested in attending please complete the relevant form below and email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 1200 Thursday 31^st January.

Crew form please click here

Private Owner form please click here

Commercial Skipper form please click here

Please note there will be a small administration charge of £10 for non RORC member crew who wish to attend, payable on the door.