RORC Easter Challenge Concludes in Cowes

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's (RORC) Easter Challenge, supported by North Sails, came to an end on Easter Sunday, April 9th, after three days of racing. Thirty-nine teams racing 24 different designs under the IRC Rating Rule competed in seven races, and the IRC Class winners were announced at the Cowes RORC Clubhouse. 

RORC Easter Challenge 2023 / Day 1 - Good Friday

Here are the IRC Class winners: Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark ‘N’ Stormy, Simon Perry’s Cape 31 Jiraffe, Lance Adams’ Corby 36 Oui, Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo, and John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox.

Ian Atkins’ GP42 Dark ‘N’ Stormy 

All competitors received complimentary on-the-water coaching and video debriefs after racing. The RORC Coaching Team was led by Mason King, backed up by drone video from the North Sails Rib. The RORC Easter Challenge is a training regatta that has been running for almost 30 years and aims to help sailors hone their techniques and skills to kick-start their 2023 season.

Simon Perry's Cape 31 Jiraffe 

“The RORC Race Team laid on excellent racing, and the Clubhouse was well attended for the debriefs," said King. "Above all, we have had great feedback from the sailors that this has been an extremely useful regatta for their season ahead.”

The RORC Cowes Clubhouse was packed with sailors for the Prize Giving, and RORC Commodore James Neville presented IRC Class winners with engraved RORC decanters and performed the customary Easter Egg toss.

RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole expressed his satisfaction with the regatta: "They are the backbone of the RORC, and helping them is good for the RORC in the long run."