The RORC is considering a race to Madeira and back as part of its points series in 2008. The distance to Madeira from the Solent is approximately 1300nm and it is envisaged that the race will commence from Cowes after Cowes Week on Monday 11 August. Each leg of the race will count separately for points. In view of the likely duration of each leg of 7 to 10 days, crew changes will be permitted in Madeira. The start of the second leg, from Madeira to Cowes, will be 48 hours following the first leg finish for each yacht. Qualification races will be required and it is expected that the 2007 Fastnet race will rank as a qualifier. Madeira is a beautiful island off south west Portugal which is easily accessible with daily flights either direct from the UK or via Lisbon. As a renowned holiday destination there is good hotel accommodation and international cuisine. English is widely spoken. If you are interested in receiving further information on this race, as a potential participant, please contact Janet Grosvenor (Tel: +44 207 493 2248; email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).