EAORA kicks off the 2026 season with a new coastal regatta
by Paul Wood, Chair of EAORA 29 Dec 2025 16:09 GMT
In a non-Fastnet year, for 2026 the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association is offering a new format programme in the hope of encouraging more boats to sample the delights of racing beyond their local waters.
The season will start with a coastal regatta to make the most of the first May Bank Holiday. There will be races from Harwich to Medway (Saturday May 2), Medway to Burnham (Sunday May 3) and Burnham to West Mersea (Monday May 4). This will give seasoned racers a great opportunity to test and tune their boats a couple of weeks before the RORC’s North Sea Race (Harwich to Scheveningen on Friday May 15).
To encourage newcomers, the mini regatta will have classes for both IRC and YTC handicap systems.
YTC entrants will also be welcome to join in EAORA’s renowned Southern Holland Race Week (Monday June 22 to Friday June 26) - racing in sheltered inland waters, visiting favourite Dutch ports and with a great social programme apres race, an event not to be missed. IRC entrants can start their week with the RORC East Coast Race (Harwich to Breskens on Saturday June 20).
The 2026 EAORA programme then continues with the Round the Goodwins Race (Ramsgate, Sunday July 19), the HMS Halcyon Cup (Harwich to Lowestoft, Saturday August 15, and the Houghton Cup (Burnham, Saturday September 5) before the traditional season’s finale, The Buckley Goblets (West Mersea to Ostend (Friday September 18).
For full details visit www.eaora.org.uk