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RORC: COWES-MADEIRA RACE

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RORC: COWES-MADEIRA RACE
RORC: Cowes – Madeira Race – Monday 11th August 2008 The Cowes to Madeira Yacht Race is new to the RORC sailing programme but the route is centuries old; Charles II granted traders sailing to Madeira tax exemption on wines in 1665. The 2008 race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club is certain to provide some challenging and spectacular ocean sailing for the competitors. On Monday morning, August 11th, the race fleet will line up on the historic Royal Yacht Squadron Line at Cowes and head for Madeira, some 1480 miles away. The race to the sun soaked Atlantic island is sure to be a truly wonderful experience for anyone with a passion for offshore racing. The Solent is always a challenging place to sail and getting a good start is always important in any yacht race. The competitors will be looking for tidal advantages and changes in wind speed and direction as they make their way west through Hurst Narrows and into the English Channel. Once through Hurst Narrows, the tactics will be to play the many tidal gates before turning South West for Ushant; the southern gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. Ushant is considered one of the most challenging areas to navigate in the world with its many rocks and more than ten knot tide streams. The fleet will then cross or go into the Bay of Biscay depending on the wind speed and direction. By then, the competitors will be getting used to life at sea and would usually be experiencing fast reaching conditions in the Atlantic swell, with extremely comfortable air temperatures, even at night. The fleet will race south down the Spanish and Portuguese coasts and pick up the Canary Current towards the finish line at Madeira which rises 1800 metres out of the ocean. Maderia has its own micro-climate and local conditions may cause a thrilling end to the longest ocean race of a busy RORC season. 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. Solo sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston commented “The RORC Cowes to Madeira race is a fantastic opportunity for sailing enthusiasts and adventurers to do some serious ocean racing, including an encounter with the North-East Trade winds. It’s great that the Clipper 68 foot round the world racing yachts will be on the start line. These are big, fast boats that respond to good crewing.” Entries have started to come in from all over Europe from a wide variety of yachts, including the smallest boat to finish the 2007 Rolex Fastnet; Foggy Dew, skippered by Noel Racine from La Havre, France. Clipper Ventures are expected to enter at least two of their yachts; The Clipper 68 is likely to be one of the biggest yachts on what already looks to be a competitive start line. Berths remain available for groups or individuals on the Clipper fleet with a discount offered to members of RORC. A brand new Archambault RC40, British Soldier, skippered by Nicholas Bate crewed by the British Army Sailing Team will be competing. The RORC race to Madeira and back to Cowes is an essential part of their training programme. The team is composed of soldiers who have all seen active service in recent years and offshore racing is an ideal way to unwind when they return home from duty. Enter online via the RORC website:http://www.rorc.org by 31st July 2008. 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 Full Story »

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