Cowes - Dinard - St Malo Race

Friday 11th July
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with UNCL, Yacht Club de Dinard, Société Nautique de la Baie de St. Malo, and the Royal Yacht Squadron

COURSE: Cowes - Casquets - Les Hanois - St Malo Approximately 164 miles

An international fleet of nearly 100 boats, from all over Europe, will be taking part in the ever popular Cowes-Dinard-St.Malo Race, starting on Friday 11th July. Over 40 designs of yacht will be competing for a variety of trophies.

Last year's line honours went to Open 60, Artemis Ocean Racing and they will be racing again this year, if conditions are favourable the Open 60 may have a chance of beating the race record set by Mike Slade's Leopard of London eight years ago. In Class Zero, Gery Trentesaux's First 45, Lady Courrier, will be looking to retain the overall title and lift the Edward VII Cup. However Jean-Claude Nicoleau IMX 45, Codiam and Mike Greville's Ker 39, Erivale III, are competing and pushed Trentesaux's team all the way last year. Erivale III is also currently leading the RORC overall season's points championship and the Ker 39 is in scintillating form having won the 2008 Rolex Commodores' Cup, last week, as part of the British Red Team.

Philippe Delaporte's J122, Pen Azen will be looking to continue their impressive season, they are currently leading Class one overall and hot on the heels of Erivale III for the overall title. However, with nearly a hundred boats racing, there will be many other battles going on. A classic example is the three Prima 38s entered for the race; Tom Hayhoe's Mostly Harmless, Rob Bottomley's Sailplane and Tony Harwood's Talisman are well sailed, identical boats and should enjoy a close battle across the English Channel.

Eric Mordret's JPK 960, Leonardo, is back to defend their class win last year, but competition in the class is very hot indeed, with a huge variety of yachts that will prefer different conditions. There are also six teams racing double-handed, most of whom are also racing in IRC Class 2. Michael Boyd & Niall Dowling's J/105, Slingshot is racing to St.Malo and they are having an incredible debut season. They currently are leading the Two Handed Class, Class Two (fully crewed) and an amazing 7th overall in the RORC Season points championship.

A strong fleet of over 26 boats will be racing in Class 3 and Paul March's S&S designed, Clarionet, is entered and currently leading the class for the season. David Cooper's Dehler 38, Longue Pierre was well placed last year and as the boat originally hales from Guernsey, it should know this race course well. On the subject of Guernsey; the RORC Cowes-Dinard-St.Malo race passes The Channel Islands, this area has one of the greatest tidal ranges in the world which will have navigator's scratching their heads from the very start of this race. Once the competitors reach St.Malo, it will be difficult for them to leave without enjoying the delights of a beautiful walled city with one of the highest concentration of seafood restaurants in Europe.

RORC Season's Points Championship 2008

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season's Points 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. 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