Friday 2nd April – Sunday 4th April

There is less than a month to go until the 19^th edition of the RORC Easter Challenge which will be held, as usual, in the Solent over the Bank Holiday weekend. The event is an ideal way to kick start a racing season, test new equipment and brush up on boat handling. With seven races scheduled over three days the regatta offers an ideal opportunity to get the boat up to speed and blow away the winter cobwebs.

Once again, the competitors will benefit from world class coaching. The rules on outside assistance have been relaxed for the regatta to allow the legendary Jim Saltonstall MBE and his team to provide free on-the-water coaching. This great opportunity to improve performance is always very popular.

I am pleased to report that the RORC entered 2 teams and achieved some notable success. Past Commodore David Aisher excelled in the skiing part of the competition. His two runs measured only 0.05 seconds apart giving him 2nd place overall out of 92 skiers. Even more remarkable was the fact that he had not been skiing for over 20 years.  Both teams were aided by the loan of very exotic Zai skis made partly of granite!
David Tydeman and Grant Gordon sailed with great skill to reach the semi-finals of the competition which was eventually won by the Royal Yacht Squadron (RORC members too).

 Andrew McIvine (Commodore)

The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is turning into a truly international event with confirmed entries from boats representing eight nations in the non-stop race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and sponsored by the specialist yacht and motorboat shipping company, Sevenstar.

The Race is seen as such a tough challenge that it is attracting a lot of interest from the oceanic group of sailors including Volvo Ocean 70’s, IMOCA 60’s and Class 40’s. The race will start in Cowes on Monday 23^rd August 2010, following on from the Rolex Commodores’ Cup.

To read the full article visit the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Minisite

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.

Although several boat are still racing, Richard Bamford's Swan 38 Dolfijn retired this morning which means that at tonight's prize giving Karl Kwok's Farr 80, Beau Geste, will be awarded the RORC Caribbean 600 trophy for best yacht overall under IRC, the line honours trophy for monohulls and Class trophy for IRC Super Zero.

"I have never cleaned up as well before so it feels really good," smiled Karl Kwok upon hearing the news. "There may have been a lack of wind but we kept on going all the time and when the wind was with us we had flat water and some fantastic sailing. Beau Geste has a great spirit, I have been friends with Gavin Brady for two decades and we sit down and decide who we will have on board. Friendship is very important to me, we choose the best sailors but also the right people. I have to say a big thank you to Gavin Brady and the two watch captains, Jonno Swain and David Endean but all of the crew did a great job.

Beau Geste races all over the world and I would like to invite all of the competitors we come across to do this race. The sailing is as good as can be and I have enjoyed it immensely."

Winner overall of the CSA division and second place overall under IRC is Richard Oland's Southern Cross 52, Vela Veloce.

"We had a close battle with Privateer who beat us by less than a minute in our last encounter, so beating them this time was a bit of payback," admitted Richard Oland, skipper of Vela Veloce. "Privateer are good sports and I am sure we will share a beer with them tonight. Although I have done a lot of cruising here, this is the first time I have raced in the Caribbean since the 60s. The boat comes from New Brunswick, Canada and it amazes me why people don't come down here and enjoy these water.

To read the full article visit the RORC Caribbean Minisite

RORC member Charlie Pitcher arrived in Antigua today after rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic in the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race. Charlie, no stranger to the water, having been involved in the America's Cup, several Admiral's Cups, Whitbread and Olympic campaigns, was met by his family and a large crowd of well-wishers as he entered English Harbour including numerous RORC members on holiday or competing in the RORC Caribbean 600.

RORC Chief Executive Eddie Warden Owen was pleased to be able to meet Charlie and congratulate him on behalf of the RORC on his great achievement.

The RORC invites its members to the RORC New Zealand Dinner at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland.

To coincide with the Louis Vuitton Trophy for the WSTA

You are invited to a dinner to be held on: Tuesday 16^th March at 1900 for 2000

Price: $NZ 75
3 course dinner, wine not included

To apply for tickets: please contact Tom and Vicky Jackson directly on   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (+64) 021 0259 1736
Other enquiries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association) are delighted to take part in one of the Caribbean’s most impressive offshore races on the 22^nd of February 2010. As the only all-amputee crew in the race, this promises to be a huge challenge.

The RORC Caribbean 600 is an exciting 605 nautical mile yacht race, which has been set up by The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and Antigua Yacht Club. The race starts in Antigua and will take the BLESMA crew north of the Caribbean, passing a mark off Barbuda, the islands of Nevis, Saba and St Barths, to circle St Maarten before heading down to Guadeloupe and finishing in Antigua.

Read the full press release on the RORC Caribbean Minisite