2024 RORC Easter Challenge - Preview

RORC Easter Challenge © Paul Wyeth / RORC

The RORC Easter Challenge is designed to kick-start any teams racing season. Held over the Easter Weekend for over 20 years, the Royal Ocean Racing Club training regatta offers a fantastic opportunity for world class coaching which is complimentary for all entrants.

Fujitsu British Soldier at RORC Easter Challenge - photo © Paul Wyeth / RORC

"The overall aim of the RORC Easter Challenge is to improve the performance of any team, regardless of their skill level, we want the sailors to gain from it, and the coaches have been chosen especially with that in mind," commented RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole. "The RORC Race Team will split the fleets into IRC classes but for this regatta we also try to put boats together that have similar training requirements, this makes the best use of the coaches at the regatta. The coaching system is very interactive."

Mason King will once again lead the coaching team with Ian Walker and North Sails experts providing on the water coaching, as well as video debriefs after racing on Friday and Saturday. World Sailing Rules on outside assistance are relaxed, so for no additional cost to all the teams, hand-picked coaches provide pin-point assistance to get crews of any level up to speed. Three days of racing are organised in The Solent from Easter Friday to Easter Sunday.

Racing at the RORC Easter Challenge - photo © Paul Wyeth / RORC

The courses are designed to practice boat handling and performance over a range of sailing angles. This also creates options in sail choice, racing mode, plus deck and rig set up. All of this is under the watchful eye of experts who will offer help to improve performance.

A competitor whatsapp group will be active right through the RORC Easter Challenge. This will inform the boats about the intentions of the Race Committee, but it will be a two-way channel, so competitors can ask for coaching advice during racing.

North Sails Ian Walker and Neil Mackley at RORC Easter Challenge - photo © Paul Wyeth / RORC

With the redevelopment of the RORC Cowes Clubhouse, this year’s regatta is supported by the Royal Yacht Squadron with competitors welcome to The Pavilion on the Squadron lawn throughout the regatta and for video debriefs. The RORC Easter Challenge has the traditional prizes of Easter Eggs but the real winners are all the sailors, improving every aspect of yacht racing ability at a safe and friendly regatta.

The RORC Easter Challenge Notice Board.

Royal Yacht Squadron Pavilion on the RYS Lawn - photo © Thomas Croft Architects