CERVANTES TROPHY RACE
Cowes, Isle of Wight to Le Havre, France

Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Société des Régates du Havre and the Royal Yacht Squadron

The Cervantes Trophy Race is traditionally the first English Channel Race of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) season and this year’s race from Cowes to Le Havre has attracted a variety of yachts from Britain, France and Belgium.

Jean-Yves Chateau’s, Iromiguy, is back to defend the Cervantes Trophy but will face tough competition from a fleet including, 2008 Rolex Commodores’ Cup competitor, Fair Do’s VII, owned by John Shepherd, as well as last year’s Assuage Trophy winner, Noel Racine’s, Foggy Dew. The British Army has won class in this race before and will be looking to do well in their brand new A40, British Soldier. In all there are over 25 different models of yacht racing for the Cervantes Trophy this year. Probably one of the oldest is Paul March’s, Clarionet, a classic Sparkman and Stephens one-off that was very successful in the 1960’s, but also won their class in the 2001 Fastnet.

RORC member, John Loden is racing his HOD 35, Psipsina in the two-handed division which is becoming a very popular form of offshore racing from mini-Transats to Open 60s.

The Trophée Guillaume Le Conquérant is organised by the Société des Régates du Havre in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Island Sailing Club. The race starts on Sunday 4th May from Le Havre and finishes in Cowes.

The name Cervantes has historic connections with the Royal Ocean Racing Club: Bob Watson’s, Cervantes IV was part of the victorious British Team that won the Admiral’s Cup in 1971. The team included Ted Heath’s, Morning Cloud and Arthur Slater’s, Prospect of Whitby. It was also the first year a woman had been selected for the British Admiral’s Cup Team; Bob Watson's daughter Liz was a regular member of the crew along with her husband. All of the British Team sported badges -  Heath’s Ahead! Slater’s Greater! and Cervantes wears panties!

RORC  Season’s Points Championship 2008

The Cervantes Trophy Race is part of The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Season’s Points Championship. The Championship consists of a testing series of races which attracts an international and varied fleet. For the serious offshore sailor, trying to win the Season’s Points Championship is the real challenge. The Season’s Points Championship this year includes the tactically challenging BMW Round Ireland Race and a new addition to the RORC sailing programme, The Cowes Madeira Race which offers an exciting opportunity of a race to Madeira and back, some 1500 miles away in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa. For those with less time, the programme also includes a race to the charming port of La Rochelle.
For the full RORC racing programme go to: http://www.rorc.org

For more information, please contact: –  
RORC: Tel. 020 7493 2248, E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
PRESS LIAISON: Trish Jenkins – J2 Communications & Events, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 07880 518689 / 01983 248070
RACE REPORTS: Louay Habib, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 07801800521