Monday 11^th August 2008, Warning Signal 08:50

COURSE: Casquets (P), Ushant (P), Ponta de Sâo Lourenço (S), Quinta do Lorde.
Approximately 1,480 miles

The Cowes to Madeira Yacht Race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club is certain to provide some challenging and spectacular ocean sailing for the competitors. Starting on the historic Royal Yacht Squadron Line at Cowes, the fleet will head for Madeira, some 1480 miles away. The race to the sun soaked Atlantic island is by far the longest race in the RORC Season's Points Championship and carries a point's factor of 1.4.

Entries have come from all over Europe from a wide variety of yachts, there is a David vs Goliath match of Clipper Ventures' 72 foot ketch, Jamaica and the two handed Class 40, Kerlaria, owned by Mike West. Despite a huge difference in size and design the two yachts should be evenly matched for the race.

Also competing is, Dr D Thomsen, Andrews 56, Norddeutsche Vermoegen from Hamburg in Germany. The yacht's Skipper, George Christiansen commented; "We very much enjoy races organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club as they are well organised and the club make us feel very much at home. We are really looking forward to this race, especially some blue water sailing in the Atlantic."

Class Zero has the in form J/122 Pen Azen, owned by Phillipe Delaporte but the Army Sailing Association's A40, British Soldier, has shown good form during Skandia Cowes Week and may favour a long beat up the English Channel more than some rivals.

The smallest boat in the fleet is Matthias Kracht's, JPK 9.6, Ultreia! An apt name for this race, as it is also the name for a pilgrims' song from North Western Spain which they will pass on route.

Weather forecast predicts a stiff south westerly breeze for the start of the race with the chance of the wind direction backing to the north, if this is the case, it could be a spectacular sleigh ride in the Atlantic for the RORC Cowes to Madeira Race. The variety of conditions should make this an exciting race, in terms of boats changing position across the race course.

RORC Madeira - Cowes Race - Tuesday 26th August 2008

The return race to Cowes could prove to be a very interesting tactical race making the best use of the conditions experienced on the trip down to Maderia. The competitors should be acustomed to offshore sailing from the start and by the finish, they will have experienced roughly 3,000 miles of ocean sailing.

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. 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 ful RORC racing programme go to: http://www.rorc.org

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Trish Jenkins - J2 Communications & Events
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Louay Habib
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