2026 Salcombe Gin Morgan Cup Race - Preview
by Louay Habib / RORC 8 Jun 06:58 BST
12 June 2026
Salcombe Gin Morgan Cup © Paul Wyeth / RORC
The Salcombe Gin Morgan Cup Race marks the next major offshore test in the 2026 RORC Season's Points Championship, the world's largest offshore racing series and is the fourth race of the RORC Cowes Offshore Series, giving teams another valuable score in the seven race programme based around starts from Cowes.
Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line, the fleet will race west from Cowes towards Dartmouth, with a course that blends Solent tactics, tidal gates along the south coast, and the final approach to the River Dart.
The race is long enough to reward offshore discipline, but short enough to be raced at high intensity from the start. With headlands, tidal gates and possible transition zones all in play, the Morgan Cup is a race where concentration, sail changes and timing can make a big difference.
All competitors, family and friends are invited to the RORC Cowes Clubhouse prior to the race. Visit the RORC Cowes Clubhouse for accommodation and dining options. Pre-booking is highly recommended. The Fastnet Bar special is of course RORC Offshore Strength Salcombe gin & tonic!
RORC Cowes Clubhouse: visit here
How to follow the race
- First Start: Friday 12 June 1200 BST
- Best Viewing: The Parade Cowes with the fleet expected in the starting area up to an hour before the first start.
- Race Tracking: All boats are fitted with satellite trackers HERE
- Follow Online: Near real time results via SailRaceHQ HERE
- Social Media: Follow #RORCRacing across Facebook, Instagram and X
In excess of 40 boats across six IRC Classes, as well as multihulls racing under MOCRA, gives the race real depth. The IRC fleet includes a strong mix of fully crewed and two handed teams, ranging from high performance race boats, racer/cruisers and classic designs.
Graeme Lewis' CM60 Venomous is the scratch entry in IRC Zero and will be the standout contender for monohull line honours. With her length and power, Venomous should stretch away if the breeze allows, but the corrected time race will be fought hard through the IRC classes.
IRC One brings together competitive teams with a wide rating spread. Trevor Middleton's JPK 1180 Black Sheep continues its RORC season, while Nick and Jacquetta Edmonds' J/45 Stickleback adds more offshore miles ahead of the summer. Cameron Davis' Farr 40 Espresso Martini Too, Francois Charles' J/133 Sun Hill IV, Thomas Wilson's Mills 39 Zero II and Jacques Pelletier's prototype L'Ange de Milon all add variety to a class that could be wide open depending on the conditions. Maarten Jan Reijnders' Custom 42 Karma is the highest rated boat in IRC One and will be one to watch if the race develops into a power reaching contest.
In IRC Two, RORC Vice Commodore Derek Shakespeare returns with his J/122 Bulldog, which has been in excellent form this season, including second overall in the Myth of Malham Race. Martin Tisdall and Oliver Milton's First 36 Juno and Richard Powell's First 40 Rogan Josh complete a compact but interesting class.
IRC Three is the largest class so far with 17 boats, both fully crewed and double handed, and looks set to provide some of the closest racing in the fleet. Rob Craigie's Sun Fast 3600 Bellino, racing with RORC Commodore Deb Fish, is again among the leading contenders for the season. Bellino has already shown outstanding consistency in RORC racing and will be a major threat both in class and overall.
The class also includes other strong Sun Fast 3600 teams including Nick Martin's Diablo, Nicolas Dezeustre's Princesse Gotionude II, Gavin Howe's Tigris, the Army Sailing Association's Fujitsu British Soldier skippered by Will Naylor, and RORC Griffin skippered by Nuala Sellwood. The Griffin team adds a youth pathway storyline to the race, with the Sun Fast 3600 continuing to provide valuable offshore experience for the young sailors.
The JPK designs will also be prominent in IRC Three. Noel Racine's JPK 1030 Foggy Dew, Astrid De Vin's JPK 1030 Il Corvo, Klaus Rasmussen and Benjamin Grosman's JPK 1080 Ronin, and Sean Richardson's JPK 1080 Horizon Hunter are all entered. With ratings tightly grouped, this class could produce a close corrected time battle right through the race.
IRC Four brings together nine boats with a strong mix of proven offshore performers and characterful designs. Rob Cotterill's J/109 Mojo Risin', third overall and class winner in the Myth of Malham Race, will be one of the favourites. Mark Brown's JPK 1010 Jetpack, Richard Palmer's JPK 1010 Jangada, and David Goulden's JPK 1010 Bandit should create a fascinating battle between similar designs.
Swan 44 Astrid, skippered by Tom Moriarty, Tim Cork's Sun Fast 3200 Hot Pursuit, Bruce Kavanagh's J/109 Jeepster, Jean Baptiste Brian's J/99 Jolly Jumper, and Johan Wagner and Jon Peerless' Sigma 38 Kindred Spirit add further depth to IRC Four.
The IRC Two Handed division is also strong, with 11 teams racing across the IRC classes. Bellino, Diablo, Dreadnot, Il Corvo, Jangada, Karma, Kestrel, Malice, Ronin, Tigris and Warrior. The Two Handed fleet underlines the continued strength of shorthanded racing in the RORC fleet.
The multihull fleet features four entries, with Dave Summers' Dazcat 1495 DMS Vinyl, Didier Bouillard's Dazcat 1295 Minor Swing, Jonathan McColl's Shuttleworth 34 Shockwave, and Peter Coote's Dazcat 1295 Slinky Malinki. The multihulls will add another dimension to the race, especially if the course offers fast reaching conditions along the south coast.
A warm welcome is guaranteed at the Royal Dart Yacht Club in Dartmouth. The Prize giving for the Morgan Cup including RORC medallions will be presented at 15:30, Saturday 13 June. All skippers and crews are most welcome, where a BBQ will be for all competitors, family and friends. For tickets, visit here.
Full entry list
For more information about the Royal Ocean Racing Club: www.rorc.org