Conditions finally came good for the last day of the RORC Easter Challenge with the wind backing into the south and building to double figures. To make up for yesterday's lack of wind, three races were held for all classes.

Runaway winner in IRC One was South African Michael Bartholomew and his well honed crew on the Hamble-based King 40 Tokoloshe. A 5-1-5 scoreline today saw them conclude the regatta with a nine point lead over Irishman Anthony O'Leary's 2010 Commodores' Cup-winning Ker 39, Antix. Simon Henning's Farr 45 Alice was doing well, but was let down by a 13^th place in today's second race causing them to drop to third overall, just two points ahead of the British Keelboat Academy on their Niklas Zennstrom-owned sistership Kolga. The Ker 40 dust-up was close with Jonathan Goring's Keronimo finishing two and half points ahead of Andrew Pearce's newer Magnum III.

Despite a strong final push by Jackie Dobson and the crew of the J/133 Jeronimo winning today's two final races, Jim Macgregor and his Poole-based Elan 410 Premier Flair maintained their lead in IRC Two to win by three points. Andrew McIrvine, ex-Commodore of the RORC, came into his own today with his First 40 La Réponse finishing third in each race today.

"It was nice to have the breeze, although we didn't change gears that well," admitted Macgregor. "In the light wind this morning - we had that sussed and we got a win. We had not a bad second race, but we weren't properly set up for the third. There were lots of boats going around corners at the same time, but everyone was well behaved. It was a very enjoyable event and we are very grateful to the RORC and Eddie Warden Owen."

Today proved a difficult one for both competitors and race officials alike at the RORC Easter Challenge. Under a grey overcast sky, race three of the series got underway on time in light breeze, but on the second beat the wind turned inside out, causing the race to be shortened, finishing at the end of that leg. After this the wind resolutely failed to return, causing today's final two races to be cancelled.

In IRC One, 2010 Commodores' Cup winner Anthony O'Leary and his silver Ker 39 Antix won today's race. "We had a good start at the pin," the Irishman described it. "We got a little jump on our group of boats, we just rounded the top mark ahead of them. It just came and went all the way down the run and as we came around the bottom mark, the breeze had swung more to the west which hurt the guys ahead of us, while we were well ahead of our group anyway."

A light, shifty, and bracingly cold wind from the north, combined with a substantial tide made for challenging conditions on the opening day of the RORC Easter Challenge.

Racing started on time at 1300 and with the wind rarely getting above 6 knots, the tide was a vital factor, ebbing throughout the afternoon at more than 2 knots (and due to increase with a 4.9m spring tide coming on Sunday).

"The tide was a pretty major factor, particularly at the starts and some of the laylines in the second race," commented Luke McCarthy, Racing Manager and Head Coach at the British Keelboat Academy.

Based in Cowes, the BKA trains young sailors aged up to 24 to become professional racing keelboat crew and is fielding five boats at the RORC Easter Challenge. This involves 35 sailors, almost the entire BKA squad.

Light to moderate breeze and a mostly sunny outlook is on the cards as three days of racing get underway on the Solent tomorrow at the RORC Easter Challenge.

62 boats are entered with the fleet split into IRC classes 1-4 with a separate class for the J/80s.

The forecast shows the wind mostly to be under 10 knots for duration of the event, but gusty and with significant shifts occurring over the three days: the wind easterly, but backing into the NNW tomorrow, returning to the east on Saturday before backing into the northwest again and dropping on Sunday.

This being the RORC's UK season opener, so all eyes will be on the new boats out on the race course. Among these is a boat expected to deliver a significant punch in IRC Three: David Franks' latest Strait Dealer.

Based in Malta and for many years a regular in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, Franks moved back to the UK last year, selling his J/125. Over the winter he acquired a JPK 1010. This French 33 footer is the first of its kind in the UK, but left a lasting impression when sisterships Foggy Dew and Wasabi demolished the opposition in IRC Three of the Rolex Fastnet Race last year. The new Strait Dealer's first outing was two weeks ago when they won their class in the Warsash Spring Series.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's more open rating bands for the 2012 Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup are having the desired effect: As the deadline closed for teams wishing to enter the British trials for this July's Cowes-based event, so 17 boats had registered - a near record compared to past trials.

In addition to his important role as Chairman of the Royal Yachting Association, Stacey Clark is also Chairman of the Selectors for the British Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup team, a panel he sits on with professional sailor, Chris Mason, now Yachting Secretary of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and Cowes Week CEO, Stuart Quarrie.

Clark himself has been helmsman on the various Cutting Edge campaigns, including most recently a Farr 45 and a TP52. "I think given the world the way it is at the moment, we are pretty pleased," he says of the turn-out. "We have a healthy number of trialists and we are optimistic about being able to put forward very strong teams."

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The RORC Easter Challenge, due to take place on the Solent over the first three days of the Easter Bank Holiday (6^th-8^th April), will offer crews a unique opportunity to jump start their sailing programs.

As well as being the first fixture in the RORC's UK racing calendar, the RORC Easter Challenge doubles as a start of season training event, with on the water coaches providing immediate advice followed by expert post-race video debriefs in the Events Centre in Cowes Yacht Haven. In fact the coaching element of the regatta is taken so seriously that the Racing Rules of Sailing are modified for the event permitting coaches or sailmakers to climb on board during racing if, for example, a crew requests some expert assistance with their sail trim or rig set-up.

The coaching this year is being spearheaded by Barry Dunning, who points out that while owners typically spend considerable sums on gear for their boats, coaching is a feature of their campaigns often overlooked. "If they just spent some money and some time on coaching, they would be up the fleet by miles," he advises. Of course at the RORC Easter Challenge it is laid on for free.

Stephen Park OBE presents: "An Inside Look into Britain's world-beating Sailing Team"

DATE: Tuesday 22^nd May 2012
TIME: 1900
VENUE: Royal Overseas League - Hall of India; Park Place, St. James's Street, SW1A 1L

Stephen Park is the RYA's Olympic Manager, and manages Skandia Team GBR, the British Sailing Team in the Olympic and Paralympic Classes. He will be giving a presentation for the Royal Ocean Racing Club at the Royal Overseas League.

Tickets for Members: £20
Tickets for non-Members: £25

To book your place please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0207 493 2248.

The London Clubhouse will be partially re-opening from Monday 6^th February 2012.

The entrance to the clubhouse will temporarily be at 19 St James's Place which is to the right hand side of your usual front door.

We have four bedrooms available for booking, increasing to five bedrooms from Monday 20^th February 2012.

The Dining room which offers a two course lunch from £15.00 & a two course dinner from £20.00 will also be open from Monday 6^th February 2012. The Jolie Brise and Fastnet rooms will also be available private hire.

Whilst the Clubhouse is open, ongoing building work will continue on the upper floors so please note that there will be noise in the Bar and Fastnet areas from 9am until 4pm. Structural alterations may require the Bar and Fastnet room to be closed at short notice and we apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Bar and Restaurant Opening times

Lunch: Mon - Fri 12.30, last orders 13.45
Dinner: Mon - Thu 19.30, last orders 20.45
Bar: Mon - Fri 12.00 - 15.00; 17.30 until 23.00
Friday night the bar closes at 20.00

For any accommodation or restaurant bookings or if you have any further enquiries please contact Mark Newens on 0207 493 2248 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We look forward to welcoming you all back to the Clubhouse.

The 2012 Notice of Race has been published.

It consists of two main sections. Part 1 applies to all RORC races and includes rules that affect every race unless modified by Part 2. Part 2 details rules that apply to specific races. When a rule is modified in Part 2 it takes precedence over the rule in Part 1.

Download

2012 RORC Notice of Race 4.23 Mb 08/02/2012

To read the Notice of Race online please click here [2012 Notice of Race]

Win a week's holiday for 2 at the exclusive Inn at English Harbour

Holiday for two in Antiguan Splendour

The RORC Caribbean 600 is a challenging race starting on 20 February in Antigua, but the Inn at English Harbour are offering an even greater incentive for those competing in classes IRC 1, 2 or 3 to sail fast around the 11 Islands and 600nm race course

The prize of a week's holiday for two at this luxurious resort on the south coast of Antigua is up for grabs for the first IRC 1, 2 or 3 class boat on corrected time! Around half of the 40-strong fleet will be eligible to take part in this fantastic competition offered by the sponsor.

Fabio Giorgi, the General Manager of The Inn at English Harbour is delighted to be associated with the race: "We have watched the race grow over the last few years and feel that it is the right time to become involved," said Fabio. "We know that the race offers a unique and exciting challenge and we feel that our hotel offers unique level of comfort and relaxation that the competitors can enjoy when they visit Antigua."

Read the complete article on the RORC Caribbean 600 minisite