yacht racing irc

How Racing Rating Rules Work (and how to maximize yours)

Racing ratings can seem confusing and overwhelming. Our team at Quantum is here to help you understand how ratings work, decipher the various systems, and help you maximize your ratings to ensure your best shot at the podium. Our sail designers have outlined a few key elements about ratings. Understanding them can help you get the most out of your racing rating.

Rating rules are a powerful tool that allows a variety of yachts to compete on a level playing field. If you race a tortoise against a hare (assuming the hare is smart enough not to take a nap in the middle of the race), the hare will always win. Not really a fair match-up. The same goes for non-one design racing. Being the first yacht over the finish line, while impressive, does not necessarily mean you sailed the best race comparatively. Therefore, rating rules come into play. It is important to understand how they work so you can work with your sailmaker and other specialists to optimize your program and level the playing field, so your crew’s talent shines.

There are four main rating rules: Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF), International Racing Conference (IRC), Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), and Offshore Racing Rule (ORR). We will give a brief overview of how each rating rule assigns a rating, why it is important to your program, and how Quantum can help make sure you have the best rating possible. While there are other rating systems, these are the four we focus on in this article.

The Rating Rules

In general, rating systems assign a value to a yacht or a particular yacht setup. This number is then used to correct finish times after each race. With all four rules, the most common way to score a race is to use a time-on-time (TOT) or a time-on-distance (TOD) correction. TOT corrections consider how long it takes to race; the TOD formula looks at the distance of the race. However, ORC and ORR ratings consider additional factors and have some flexibility for a custom correction formula.

PHRF is a simple handicap system, similar to the system used in golf. Considering the type of yacht, an assumed sail plan, and the team’s performance, a corrected-time handicap factor is assigned to the team. Races under PHRF rules correct times using TOD or TOT.

The other three rating rules are a bit more complicated. These rules use formulas to assign a rating to each yacht based on the yacht’s dimensions, construction, and design features. The formulas for IRC and ORR are closely guarded secrets; however, it is still possible for sailmakers, yacht builders, and other specialists to understand how various factors affect the rating. ORC has two categories of classification, ORC International and ORC Club. In this article and for most applications, we refer mostly to ORC-International rating that requires a measurement performed by an official and certified measurer. ORC has a published formula that gives designers information to analyze and data to work from.

IRC looks at several yacht elements from sail size to weight and beam. It compares yachts as a percentage and then assigns the yacht a rating that is corrected using TOT.

ORC and ORR take their rating system to the next level by using complex formulas to predict the speed of the yacht with a given setup. These formulas are often referred to as Velocity Prediction Programs (VPP). There are a few ways these ratings can be used to score a race, including TOT, TOD, and performance curve scoring.

What Goes Into a Rating?

A large amount of data is plugged into IRC, ORC, and ORR proprietary formulas that generate ratings for various conditions and situations. For example, an ORR certificate has multiple standard and custom ratings for specific events such as the Newport Bermuda Race. Common data used to determine ratings includes hull data, sail measurements and types, crew and yacht weight, waterline, hardware, sailing trim, and other rigging data and measurements.

How Ratings Change

Due to several factors, your ratings can change even though your yacht hasn’t. The most common factor in rating change is sail size. Smaller sails equal a better rating across the board, and, since all modern sails shrink with use, your ratings can change over time. Every time you fold, hoist, or tack your sails, they shrink a bit, not unlike the way a piece of paper shrinks each time you crumple it up and re-flatten it. Some sail constructions, such as those using a lot of Dyneema, tend to shrink more than carbon sails.

General yacht specifications from the yacht manufacturer are often used to compile data points; however, each yacht is unique, so having the correct data for your yacht and rig can go a long way toward improving your rating.

How to Optimize Your Rating

Because IRC, ORC, and ORR ratings consider a number of elements that affect the speed of the yacht, there is a lot of room to tweak your setup to optimize your yacht for a particular racing rule. Sometimes a simple sail re-measurement is all it takes to better your handicap. That can be a real game changer when you are racing the 333-mile Chicago-to-Mackinac, the 475-mile Annapolis-to-Newport, or the 2,225-mile Trans Pac.

PHRF is harder to optimize due to the way ratings are assigned. Since the rating is based on boat type, it assumes these boats all use the same sail inventory. The best way to improve your PHRF rating is to improve your performance by using the sails your handicap is rated for. Quantum can help you review your rating and inventory and ensure the form is accurate. Our team can also explore how your regional PHRF committee measures the impact of switching from a pole and symmetrical spinnaker setup to a fixed-pole asymmetrical setup, as that can also greatly affect your handicap.

Whether you have an existing rating or need to apply for a new one, there are essentially three ways you can get the best, or at least a better, rating.

Option 1: Maximize what you’ve got.

This is the most common, easiest, and cheapest way to improve your rating. Bring your rating certificate and your largest sails to your local Quantum loft. We will start by verifying the sails listed on the certificate and re-measure them. We’ll discuss your yacht and sail plan, regatta schedule, overall program, and where you want to take it. This gives us a better understanding and helps us identify other areas that can improve your rating. Sometimes it is as simple as helping you re-submit your form with updated sail sizes.

Option 2: Deeper Analysis and Inventory

If your team is looking to take things to the next level or has a specific goal in mind, Quantum can help guide you through the second option. It is a bit more expensive than the first option but yields results. After assessing your current rating, goals, and budget, we will help coordinate and guide you through a whole-yacht optimization process using our in-house design team as well as other industry partners.

A Quantum sail designer will look carefully at your existing inventory, identify gaps or areas that could be improved, make recommendations for tweaking current sails, and add new or swap different sails to your inventory. We’ll run various simulations to dial in your rating based on your sail plan and help you create a long-term plan focused on optimizing your rating and sailing objectives.

Then we’ll work with other industry experts and review your yacht for potential changes or upgrades. These experts will run multiple analyses of your setup and identify areas that could benefit from re-evaluating your measurements, such as weighing your yacht to get an accurate weight instead of using the rules default values. 

Option 3: Weather and Location Ratings

The third option builds on the first two options and fine-tunes your rating for specific wind conditions and/or locations. Working within our network of industry experts, we’ll gather historical weather data for a particular event and run multiple simulations for the venue to further optimize your overall plan. This is a common practice with professional and Grand Prix racing teams

WHICH RATING DO I NEED?

This is a rather complex question that ultimately involves weighing and prioritizing factors that answer other questions. Is there an offshore race you’ve always wanted to sail? A destination regatta with a variety of classes to compete in? How much value is placed on the potential outcome, thereby determining which event to sail? Ratings and measurement systems evolve, and your boat, using one rating, may be more favorable in the same race with a different rating in a different class or suited for a different race altogether. While we can’t recommend one system over another, we can walk you through your sailing program plans and goals and help you decide which is the best system and then optimize that rating.

Regardless of where your program stands, we are here to help you understand how rating rules work and guide you to a better rating so that you and your team get the most out of the hard work you put in to cross the finish line. Email our team at  [email protected] to get the process started. _____

Other Resources:

• US Sailing: Rating Rules and Handicapping Systems.
• US Sailng: Offshore Competition
• US Sailing: PHRF Fleet Contact Directory
• International Rating Certificate: Official Website
• Offshore Racing Congress: Official Website
• Offshore Rating Rule: Offical Website

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40 years of IRC Rating Made by sailors for sailors

In 2024 the International Rating Certificate (IRC) celebrates 40 years of yacht rating around the world.

Back in the early 1980s, most boats were racing under the international offshore rule (ior), but it was starting to be more concentrated on racing boats and leading to extreme type-forming and pinched sterns, causing “too much rock and roll” in the words of the royal ocean racing club (rorc) commodore at the time, the late robin aisher..

In 1983 he and the Commodore of l’Union National de la Course au Large (UNCL) Jean Louis Fabry, whilst enjoying an evening out in Paris, decided that a rule was needed that would rate any size and shape of boat. Follow-up conversations, usually held at the end of a RORC cross Channel race and including RORC Racing Manager Alan Green, clinched the deal. A brief summary of the idea was jotted down on the back of an envelope, and the RORC-UNCL joint venture: Channel Handicap System (CHS) was born to allow cruiser/racers to compete with a simple but mathematical rating rule while IOR continued to cater for the top end racing boats.

The first CHS certificates were issued in 1984 and the system evolved into IRC in 1999. It became a World Sailing (ISAF) international recognised rating system in 2003. Over the last 40 years IRC has continued to rate a huge variety of monohulls including IOR, production cruiser/racers, superyachts, sportboats, classics and cutting edge race boats, always with the fundamental policy of protecting the existing fleet. It has been at the forefront of permissive development taking an early stance on rating features such as retractable bowsprits, asymmetric spinnakers, canting keels and water ballast. For decades IRC has been used for the major trophies in world-renowned inshore and offshore events and continues to provide a simple, inexpensive foundation for competitive sailing around the world.

In the early days CHS certificate processing was a laborious process, unlike the user-friendly systems in place today. Two decades of development later it became possible to import application data into the database and certificates were available as PDFs. The current application system was developed by the current Director of Rating, Dr Jason Smithwick, and has allowed improvements such as the certificate boat data page including an image of the boat, and IRC data published online.

The stability and endurance of the IRC rating system and its development owe much to the unparalleled continuity within its team, both past and present. The RORC Rating Office in the UK prides itself on longevity of service and depth of experience, boasting a combined 70 years of service amongst its current four-person technical team, and similar long-term experience is seen across the Channel in France at the Yacht Club de France Centre de Calcul IRC, and on the IRC Technical Committee. The unwavering dedication and collective experience of this international team underscore the resilience and longevity of the IRC rating system, ensuring its continued fairness, relevance and effectiveness in the world of competitive sailing.

For more information visit  ircrating.org

by IRC Rating Office

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New national rating system for cruiser racers unveiled

Since the pandemic there has been a boost in numbers of people getting afloat - mostly sailors relatively new to the sport - and the RYA and the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) are keen to encourage as many keelboat and cruiser-racer sailors as possible to enjoy racing at their clubs or local regattas. Recognising the need for, and current lack of, an entry level rating system, the RYA and RORC have joined forces with the South West Yacht Time Correction Factor (YTC) rating system to develop and roll out a new initiative: the RYA YTC, powered by RORC Rating. 

YTC has been developed over recent years by a group of volunteers, initially based in Falmouth but now more widely spread across the South West, to rate the wide variety of cruiser/racer yachts to be found racing in clubs so that they can race against each other easily, competitively and fairly. YTC is based on the statistical models developed by Linda Wolstenholme of Emsworth Slipper SC, but the system has developed significantly since the early days and, for those clubs who wish to use it, a means to introduce more accurate results-based club handicapping.

Under an innovative tripartite agreement, the existing YTC core team, led by RYA SW Regional Chair Chris Davis, will continue to advise and support both the RYA and RORC in order to achieve both a seamless transfer for existing users and development and alignment of the system with IRC. The RORC Rating office will bring their unrivalled operational knowledge of rating systems to managing the new system and overseeing future development.

“We recognise the existing RYA National Handicap for Cruisers system (NHC) was not fulfilling clubs’ needs and nobody is keener than my team to see more boats out enjoying racing on the water,” said Ian Walker, the RYA’s Director of Racing. “Having a good, proven rating system that is portable between clubs and regattas and available nationally, free of charge to anybody wanting to go racing, must be a good thing.”

For the RORC Rating Office this project is part of their ambition to support the growth of the sport.

Jason Smithwick, Director of the RORC Rating Office, added: “YTC has proven popular in the South West and has been successful in encouraging more boats into the sport. The system provides an excellent, simple entry-level introduction to racing without the need for personal handicapping, and we are enthusiastic that expansion will help many clubs increase their racing fleets. For those keen to progress further it acts as a simple stepping-stone to IRC racing, the gold standard for rating.”

The aim of the new management team is to move systems across and embed the processes in 2022 before really promoting the system and encouraging more clubs to adopt the system in 2023 and beyond.

Chris Davis, SW YTC Chair, added: “This is an exciting time for the YTC system. It is important to us that sailors and clubs that already use this system have a seamless transition to the new management group. All current YTC ratings and certificates for 2022 will remain valid and the process will remain free of charge. I would like to thank all the volunteers that have worked so hard, for over ten years now, to implement YTC in their clubs and regattas, and of course our sponsors here in the South West. We in the core team are delighted that YTC will be developed further, whilst maintaining the current ethos of the system for the good of anyone wishing to go yacht or keelboat racing at club level.”

Any club wishing to adopt the RYA YTC for their club racing, or any boat owners interested in obtaining an RYA YTC rating can find all the details at ytc.rorcrating.com   or www.swytc.org.uk .

Yachting World

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Second hand boats: How to buy an IRC winner

• Rupert Holmes
• August 29, 2022

If you’re buying a second-hand racing yacht, how do you ensure you’ll be competitive? Rupert Holmes analyses what to look for when buying a used yacht for serious IRC racing fun

If you want to participate in racing in the UK and much of the rest of the big sailing nations, you really need to look to IRC unless you are specifically looking for class racing. For many of us buying a new yacht is beyond our means, so what are the best second hand yacht options top get an IRC winner?

A big factor in the success of classes as diverse as the former Fast 40 fleet and Quarter Tonners is that IRC is proven to be an extremely equitable rating system when used for boats of a similar style.

There are also plenty of examples of older designs – such as J/105s – notching up significant successes offshore, particularly in double-handed classes , while in last year’s Rolex Fastnet Race , an X-332 (designed in 1994) won Division 4. Equally, Ross Appleby’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster has an enviable long-term record and was 3rd overall in last year’s RORC Season’s Points.

But what makes a good choice for inshore IRC racing? To some extent the high end of this arm of the sport is increasingly dominated by lightweight asymmetric planing designs. However, other well prepared and well sailed boats have also demonstrated they are still competitive. They include Lena Having’s Corby 33 Mrs Freckles , which won class at this year’s RORC Easter Challenge.

Quarter Tonners are still a force to be reckoned with under IRC, here at the RORC Vice Admiral’s. Photo: Paul Wyeth/RORC

Well-optimised

So what should you look for when considering a second-hand boat , especially for an inshore dominated IRC-based programme? Ian Atkins was in that position at the end of last season, when he bought Peter Morton’s Fast 40 Jean Genie , now renamed Dark N Stormy .

“We had identified the former Fast 40 boats as already being very competitive on IRC,” he told me. “ Jean Genie is a boat we admired from afar last year, when we were racing an IC37.” Atkins was particularly impressed by the boat’s performance in light and moderate conditions, which he says is equal to Ràn Vll , Niklas Zennström’s Carkeek 40 that was launched to much acclaim in 2018.

The boat started life as a Spanish-built GP42 in 2009 that raced successfully on the Mediterranean circuit. Later she was optimised for the Solent Fast 40 class, with updates including a new keel, and raced as Zephyr for a couple of seasons. Morton then undertook a big refit, including a new deck, repositioning the pedestal to the back of the cockpit, and a comprehensive sail wardrobe.

old and new, symmetric and asymmetric designs racing at the RORC Easter Challenge under IRC. Photo: Paul Wyeth

“It was very well set up, with little for us to do last winter,” says Atkins.

Morton had several notable successes with the boat in 2021, including second place in the IRC Nationals, just one point behind Ràn , and a class win in Cowes Week, where he also lifted two of the regatta’s most prestigious and historic trophies, the Britannia Cup and New York Yacht Club Challenge Cup. His only reason for selling was to focus on a 5.5 Metre world championship campaign.

Article continues below…

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What advice would Atkins give to anyone contemplating a similar campaign? “Start with the history of the boat and the modifications,” he says, “including comparing the IRC rating and key measurements to similar boats.”

It’s also fundamental to understand the price point, even though this can be difficult to assess on such high-end boats. This includes the sail inventory, which can represent a significant proportion of a boat’s second-hand value. With a smaller and less complex boat you might be able to assess this yourself, but it’s a different matter at this level of racing and Atkins had North Sails confirm the condition of the sails, and that there were no gaps in the inventory.

Khumbu (ex 42 South) is a very well prepared Reichel/Pugh 42 from 2007 in a similar mould to Jean Genie/Dark N Stormy. Photo: Paul Wyeth

At the time of writing, Atkins has notched up an impressive series of overall victories in 2022, including against a mixed fleet including Cape 31s and J/111s in the Warsash Spring Series and in Class One at the RORC Easter Challenge regatta, which he says “was an important result for us against similar boats.”

He adds: “Although it was a small fleet, we had four really well sailed boats with very close racing and small rating differences. We won one race by one second, another we were runners-up by two seconds – it felt just like one design racing. The learning curve for us was very steep, but it proved there’s still good life in older raceboats that have been well looked after – I don’t think there’s any reason to worry about their age.”

Mixed dozen

Atkins is also the force behind an initiative to provide a new circuit for similar boats, with a new Grand Prix Zero class. This is intended to provide very close racing for a swathe of fast, lightweight designs, from IC37s to TP52 s, with IRC ratings from 1.192 to 1.394 and displacement/length ratio less than 105.

He has identified more than a dozen suitable boats in the Solent area alone. The class’s first official outing was at RORC’s Vice Admirals’ Cup in late May, with 12 boats showing strong interest in racing with the class this season.

Close fast racing for the HP30 class at the RORC Vice Admiral’s Cup. Photo: James Tomlinson/RORC

Pocket rockets

For a more Corinthian-oriented campaign, it’s worth considering the HP30 class. This high performance fleet of mostly 28-30ft boats has now been firmly established for several years and is expecting a fleet of 14 boats for key events this year, including the Nationals, Round The Island Race and Cowes Week.

Although a lot smaller, these boats still provide a giant dose of adrenaline in a big breeze and tantalisingly close racing in any weather. The class rule specifies asymmetric spinnakers and displacement/length ratio less than 120 (raised to 125 for pre-2016 boats) and IRC rating between 1.050 and 1.140.

A wide range of designs has been successful over the years, but class founder Joe Hall says it has now mostly split into Farr 280s and Far East 28Rs, plus a few older boats including a McConaghy 31, J/90 and Lutra 30.

Numerically the Far East 28R is the most popular, partly because more than 500 have been built and there are therefore plenty on the second-hand market, where prices start at just £33,500 including VAT.

On the other hand, only 13 Farr 280s were ever built and, with five already in the fleet, there are limited options for sourcing others. This invariably means buying a boat located overseas, although they are light enough to be towed on a road trailer.

Hall cautions against opting for a boat that’s too old, saying that the recent designs are “easy plug-and-play boats that are already set up with asymmetric spinnakers.” He also points out they are very robust, thanks to vacuum infused foam core construction, which is intrinsically more reliable than with balsa cores and more traditional glassfibre layup.

“Whatever the superficial condition of a Farr 280, for example,” he adds, “we know from experience that it can be brought back to a good racing condition with only a few days of work.”

The JPK 1180 Sunrise starting the Rolex Fastnet Race 2021 off Cowes

Inshore and offshore

While there are some offshore optimised boats that fit the Grand Prix Zero format, notably RORC Commodore James Neville’s HH42 Ino XXX , most are configured only for inshore racing. For those wanting a boat to race in a mix of inshore and offshore events, the Performance 40 class makes a lot of sense. This includes designs such as J/111s, J/122s and J/121s, Grand Soleil 43, Farr 40s, King 40s, JPK 1180s and so on. When well set up and sailed all of these are proven to excel under IRC.

Key criteria for the Performance 40 class includes an IRC rating between 1.070-1.145 and displacement/length ratio of 125-205. This makes these boats fundamentally heavier than both the Grand Prix Zero and HP30 classes, which allows for a degree of comfortable accommodation for use offshore, or as a dual purpose boat for fast cruising as well. The class’s rule again assures very close racing at all of the seven regattas in this year’s programme. Overall winners in the past few years include a MAT 12, Mills 39, J/122 and King 40.

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Maxi Racing to the Max

• By Kimball Livingston
• February 21, 2023

Maxi racing in the Med is hot. Call it a lesson in the value of getting your act together. The game has grown and changed dramatically—and deliberately—with fleets of 50 as the new normal. Ten years ago, none of this was ensured. The secretary general of the International Maxi Association, Andrew McIrvine, tells us, “Rapid change was needed, or it was going to just die.”

How it didn’t “just die” is a story worth telling, and we lean on McIrvine for that. “The International Maxi Association was originally a social club for the owners of 80-footers. That generation was going out as I was invited in,” he says. “The racing had categories that were impossible to define, so people were always gaming it. What’s a racer-cruiser versus a cruiser-racer? And could we ever have effective class splits based on hull length?”

The answer to that, as proven, is no he says. “The categories are now performance-defined, using a single-number IRC rule that includes an accurate weight measurement, not a calculated weight. We photograph the interiors so we know who’s stripping them out. The database includes 155 boats, and it has checks on people who fly too close to the rules. That gives other people the confidence to come out and race.”

The 2023 Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge offers a series of six events, wrapping up in August with the Palermo-Montecarlo Race. That’s 500 miles from Sicily to the Champagne at Yacht Club de Monaco—not to forget the fly-through gate at Porto Cervo along the way and the option of leaving Corsica to port or to starboard. It’s a sporty race in a sporty calendar.

“I truly believe the IMA has made a difference. We’ve attracted a new, younger membership. We’ve added events, and the compass has expanded from the Med to the Caribbean . Whereas we used to have a big mini-maxi contingent and not many boats 80 to 100 feet, in 2022 we suddenly had 12 of the 80- to 100-foot maxis racing, and racing on proper terms. At least two of the current owners are building new boats, which I believe is the sign of a healthy class.

“Then there are the Maxi 72s that have all been modified outside the box they were designed for, but they still race together. They’re more optimized than the other boats, so no one outside their group wants to race against them—they’re a threat—but we can usually give them their own sandbox to play in.”’

And what of the Wallys that seems to have disappeared?

“We gave that up. Wallys come in different sizes, different speeds. I can’t think of a single case of twin Wallys. Now they’ve rejoined according to their ratings, and I think, frankly, the Wally era is over. Luca Bassani’s success with Wallys is such that all designers have copied his concept. When he started, big race boats were neither ergonomic nor pretty, and the decks were bristling with winches. If you go aboard any boat now, it looks like a Wally.

“You could also go the way of Rambler and Comanche, where you pay more and more money to be more and more uncomfortable. Down below, you’re sitting in a carbon-black hole (black because paint adds weight) beside an engine that runs to power the canting keel and the winches. On deck—and it’s true with the Maxi 72s—you find they are exhausting boats to sail because they’re fast upwind at steep angles only. They’re on the edges of the hull to keep the wetted surface to a minimum. The hulls are so wide at the stern, all the crew is hiked hard at the aft end of the boat. And then, in a tack, you’re going from 45 degrees to 45 degrees, and if you don’t get it right running across the deck, you’re in trouble. On a clean deck, there’s nothing to grab on to.”

Placing itself somewhere in between the extremes of the grand-prix set and the ­leaning cruisers, Nautor has a new ClubSwan 80 it’s touting as a one-design class. Loro Piana brought Hull No. 1 to the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup last year at Porto Cervo, and the boat performed well. Weighing the odds of developing a successful one-design, it’s worth remembering that the ClubSwan 50 had its skeptics, who were proven wrong. But the 80 is a take-no-prisoners statement. It’s a major turn for a company whose classic racing events feature boats with furniture. Now we’re talking all carbon with a canting keel, a tacking daggerboard, push-button controls, twin rudders, design by Juan K, and construction in Italy by Persico—very fashion-forward. I’m sure you had a look at that boat.

“It’s a fascinating project, and it looks extreme, but it has, theoretically, cruising potential,” McIrvine says. “Inside, it’s all black carbon—artfully crafted—accented with strips of mahogany veneer. No furniture, but you have the option of adding interior modules for cruising. And we shouldn’t overlook the carbon-fiber bidet in the owner’s head.”

Clearly, Nautor thinks the IMA has a good thing going, and it wants a bigger piece of it. Beyond rational class definitions, one very important thing is resonating, McIrvine says. The owners are driving.

“Our rule is critical, and we are strict about imposing it, with rest breaks allowed,” he says. “Generally, it takes a lifetime to amass the wealth to race a big boat. By the end of a day race, most owners are exhausted. Which is not to say that amateur drivers are on their own. An astonishing number of names you know show up to whisper, ‘A little higher, sir, a little lower.’ That keeps the standards high, and it’s a reminder that being a pro sailor is a dodgy profession. There are only 10 TP52s in the Med, for example, only nine SailGP teams in the world and five America’s Cup teams. However, we don’t restrict driving in the superyacht group at all.”

The other boat debuting at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup was FlyingNikka , which raised the concern of foiling monohulls threatening the order. “ Nikka showed that she can sail in the fleet safely, so at St. Tropez we put her in a class where her rating was absurd. The boat would do 35 knots in the right conditions, but they couldn’t keep her on foils going upwind. Tacks were agonizingly slow. What Roberto Lacorte is looking for is line honors in longer races.”

The venues where maxis can and now gather are also a draw. The Caribbean was the inevitable expansion opportunity beyond the Med, where it’s obvious that people like to go to St. Tropez, Capri, Sorrento, Giraglia and so on. Neither coast of the United States can accommodate such a fleet.

“Water depth is a huge challenge for race committees,” McIrvine says. “A lot of the Bay of Naples is 1,200 to 1,500 feet deep. Off St. Tropez it’s much, much deeper. We’re using MarkSetBot, which is promising. It’s not 100 percent reliable, but an upside beyond remote control is that you can’t wrap your keel around an anchor line because there is no anchor line [on a GPS‑directed robot mark].

“Our people are selective about where they choose to race. One owner told me it costs him $750,000 to take his boat, team and containers to Porto Cervo for five days. No one wants to spend that kind of money on a badly run regatta, so it’s a conservative bunch.

“The IMA has a small board of directors backed up by a dynamic, insightful team. IMA costs are supported by membership subscription except for Rolex, which has been fantastic. When I started with the IMA, the Rolex people told me, ‘We’ve been giving you money, but your people just put it in the bank.’ I said, ‘I’m sure I can fix that,’ and I have. There is a lot of travel now, a much more glam yearbook, a lot of publicity. About half the boats racing last year were flying the IMA flag.”

So, everything is coming up roses? “There are still supply-chain issues around securing building materials. Outside of maxi racing, the 30- to 40-foot range is falling off a cliff, except for shorthanded distance racing. Looking ahead, we still don’t know if we are in a recession or a hiccup, but in previous recessions, maxi racing has gone on, looking good for two or three years longer than you might expect. Then the boats stay on the dock.”

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Following the international IRC annual Congress meeting in October, the 2023 IRC rule text is now published on the IRC website and includes changes that reflect IRC’s desire to listen to what sailors want, simplify rules where possible and respond to changing trends not only in technical development but also racing practices.

The IRC Technical Committee and IRC Congress have shown their commitment to reducing costs for sailors and recognising the varied range of course types in which IRC boats race by introducing a secondary certificate. Any owner will now be able to apply for a second valid certificate for their boat, previously an option only available to those swapping between fully crewed or short-handed racing (rule 8.2.1). The secondary certificate incorporates the former short-handed certificate and allows more configuration changes, with potential applications being inshore/offshore; shorthanded/crewed; racing/cruising sails; or even a specific configuration for a single event.

In the interest of simplification and consistency, the wording relating to adjustment of rigging while racing (rule 21.1.6) now refers to ‘aft rigging’ instead of ‘running backstays, checkstays or adjustable backstay’, with no change to rating effects; and stored power now refers to ‘aft rigging only’ rather than ‘backstay only’ (rule 15.2).

The responsibility of rating rules to support sustainable practices and maximise the competitive lifespan of boats at the same time as encouraging initiatives and technical development is always on the IRC agenda. The 2023 formulation changes include an extension of age allowance beyond 20 years, giving a small amount of additional credit to those boats built before the turn of the millennium.

There will also be a review of the rating of IRC Flying Headsails to increase their attraction as a rating option, while not moving them into the realms of being seen as a requirement to be competitive. Alongside this, with a year’s notice, the number of headsails carried aboard will be rated from 2024; more details of this will be published during 2023.

The IRC Technical Committee are keen to increase transparency relating to rated inputs, and with this in mind the new IRC certificate will include a second page showing a basic drawing including the rated data, rig details and appendages to help owners and competitors to easily see the rated configuration of the boat.

The 2023 IRC rule applies from 1st January 2023, except in countries with June-May validity where the rule will apply from 1st June 2023.

2023 IRC Rule text and more information about rule changes:  ircrating.org/irc-rule .

Full IRC Congress 2022 Minutes and other associated documents:  ircrating.org/about/irc-congress .

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Published on May 15th, 2024 | by Editor

Is level racing possible with handicaps?

Published on May 15th, 2024 by Editor -->

Yacht designer and past Seahorse magazine editor Julian Everitt shares a complex topic in this Facebook post about rating rules and racing:

Could Ton Cup style level racing provide a resurgence in grand prix top class offshore racing from Minis to Maxis? A top flight offshore competitor asks, “Is IRC or ORC up to the task?”

The ‘almost-level’ handicap inshore One Ton of today, fought out in IRC rule Fast 40s, has not proven to have much growth potential. So here is the question from a long-term offshore racing owner, skipper and RORC member:

“Once again, ORC seem to be creating tools and interest, with its SPEED GUIDES, that our IRC cannot. Love or hate ORC, their marketing and voice is heard above IRC. As Rear Commodore of the RORC 2016-2019, I tried to action change to the way the rule was marketed and communicated to little effect.

“The main step we made was to wrestle control away from the French office but even that was a financial fudge! So, as with the latest bulletin, the ORC have more interesting tools and can therefore potentially engage better with the owner base with much more to offer in regard to comparative performance information.

“I would be interested to know what you think about what the strategy should, or could be, for the future in regard to the use of IRC or ORC. Or are we destined to a future of sailing one designs or classics!?”

ANSWER: I think the ORC model is fundamentally more interesting because it is open. They actually have something they can promote with comparison tools – either boat against boat or as with the so-called speed guide – a way of measuring your ability to sail your own boat against its theoretical performance.

IRC, on the other hand doesn’t have much that it can promote due to its antiquated secrecy rules. The IRC is very good at patting itself on the back saying how successful it is, but at the end of the day, that isn’t actually that interesting.

The ORC rule based, as it is, on supposedly accurate scientific performance data, should be wiping the floor with IRC in terms of popularity as both a club level cruiser racer handicap rule and a full-on grand prix rating system – but it’s not.

So, you have to ask yourself why not? Why wasn’t the established offshore rating rule body able to make a seamless change from IOR to IMS and then to the ORC Rule? Well, it would seem that despite the vastly greater PR value inherent in the scientific solution to offshore sailboat handicapping, the general sailing public still prefer the haphazard linear measurement system enshrined in IRC.

But to add to the problem of which solution is inherently more saleable to the racing boat owners, we have gigantic anomalies in both rules. They both pride themselves, in their sales pitches, that their respective formulas can measure any kind of monohull sailing boat. With the VPP based ORC this would seem, on the face of it, to be an honest and achievable goal and one that is open to scrutiny. However, the reality though is very different.

The rule is intensely type forming which seems to be a contradiction of the very cornerstone of the rule, that is supposed to allow it to accurately measure actual performance differences in hull forms and rig configurations. Why therefore is there a type formed solution? It makes no sense whatsoever.

If the formulas are working properly, then it shouldn’t matter at all what displacement you choose, how much beam, how much sail area, how much keel depth, or even underbody configuration. Anything should be rated with a ‘fair’ handicap based on its performance potential – even a long-keeled boat.

Indeed, if the VPPs worked at all, you could have a hugely disparate fleet racing as close as a bunch of One Designs. But two elements work against the popularity of ORC: 1) The perceived complexity. 2) The total failure to produce a product that actually does what it says on the can.

IRC isn’t much better except the rule helps demonstrate that human nature quite likes the random elements of a linear measurement system together with a big dollop of empirical judgement. The secrecy element is just paranoia. To be frightened by the cost effects of unleashing untold development of new boats by hungry designers – well that horse has already bolted in an undignified rush to obtain ‘optimized’ rating certificates. (Something which, incidentally, is effectively banned by the rules own Rule 2.5 – but who seems to care?)

The owners are simply paying big bucks for the designers to ‘guess’ and then get their interpretation of an optimum ratified by a secret formula. It’s crazy and wholly unnecessary. If IRC was actually braver in using its fudge factors, it could control unseaworthy developments very easily.

But just as with ORC, there is a lie at the core of IRC. It again, like ORC, purports to be able to measure almost anything you throw at it, which kind of implies that a fair rating will be produced for whatever hull form, rig configuration that comes along. But this is clearly not true and for reasons that are mystifying IRC, produces intensely type formed, optimized yachts.

Its real value should be returned to its roots. A rule that is very good at rating a mixed fleet, it undoubtedly is, but as a rule for rating development boats, it is completely useless except to those looking through the narrow prism of fashion.

Neither of these rules are effective at producing level rating classes. The very kind of racing that was so popular under IOR and which just about everybody craves today: top level racing without handicap.

Tags: IRC , Julian Everitt , ORC , rating rule

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2024 IRC European Championships | Hosted by the Royal Irish YC

Three major sailing championships will be hosted by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire in Autumn 2024 in what will be a three week jamboree of keelboat racing, culminating in the IRC European Championship.

First up is the ICRA National Championships, which will see yachts across all classes competing on exciting Dublin Bay courses and with plentiful shoreside entertainment. The ICRA National Championships will run from Friday, 30th August to Sunday, 1st September. The timing of this event may put some of the Dun Laoghaire fleet at a dis-advantage if they are not careful to maintain crew discipline on ICRA’s Eve – typically, the last Thursday night race of the Dublin Bay Sailing Club season can be a rowdy affair!

Crews of J boats will barely have time to hose down their boats and fold away their racing sails before the Key Yachting J Cup Ireland kicks off with preliminaries in the Royal Irish yacht Club on Friday 6th September 2024. First run in the RIYC in 2023, this very successful event returns with back-to-back racing on the weekend of Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September 2024. We expect large entries from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland given the opportunity to race in the ICRA’s and/or the IRC Europeans the week before and the week after.

Crowning off the three weeks of competition will be the IRC European Championship which runs from 12th – 15th September 2024. Run in conjunction with the Royal Ocean Racing Club, this will bring the cream of Grand Prix cruisers racers to Dun Laoghaire and will prove to be a spectacular event for both participants and spectators. In a special partnership with RORC, RIYC are preparing a format which will be inclusive for Club, Regatta and Professional sailors alike while Dublin is only 20 minutes away by metro and full of sights and experiences for fellow travellers.

Running the events on consecutive weeks allows visiting boats to come and enjoy their pick of top level racing and also enjoy some downtime with their friends and families exploring the hinterland of the area. The Preliminary Notice of Race will be issued in the next few weeks.

“We are delighted to be hosting this unique jamboree of sailing in the Royal Irish Yacht Club next year. Our club’s excellent facilities, under the stewardship of our sailing manager Mark McGibney are gearing up to welcome all the sailors and guests. This is a great opportunity for Dun Laoghaire to show the World what a fantastic location it is for yacht racing. There are many attractions for the visiting crews their family and friends to enjoy “ said Jerry Dowling – Commodore of the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

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Home » IRC Racing » Valid Rating Listings

UPDATE 25 January 2024

If you import the CSV listing into your scoring or other software, please note that we are updating the listing file format tonight and it will include the following changes: “Headsails” header becomes “Single Furling Headsail”. The output for that column will change to: No, Yes, Yes + H/W Jib* (*H/W jib option only valid for southern hemisphere boats).

There will then be three new columns “Headsails”, “Flying Headsails” and “Spinnaker”. The output is an integer number and is the maximum number declared for each sail type. For southern hemisphere boats (Racing Area > 399) the Headsails field will be 0 as that is not required until 1 June.

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This listing is that which supplies clubs running IRC events with the information they may require. Please note that it does not include the design of the boat (to prevent possible abuse) or any more data than the basic LH and draft, which some events use for berthing arrangements etc. The listing is updated every evening (UK time).

Please check that you have cookies enabled in your browser , as it requires this to remember that you have ticked the conditions acceptance box. MAC users may experience difficulties enabling cookies. Try using Chrome or Firefox, and the following advice may help: https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT204098 .Please note that the listing may take a few seconds to appear on your screen. The listing can be downloaded to your computer in csv format by clicking on the link above the on-screen list.

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Please visit the IRC website to read the current IRC rules and measurement advice before applying for your rating.

Revalidation:   IRC certificates are valid until 31st December each year so you will need to revalidate (renew) the certificate for the following year.   If your boat was last rated within the last 10 years you can revalidate through MyIRC; if the last certificate was older than 10 years ago please contact the Rating Office for advice.

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If you cannot find the information you are seeking on this website or on the IRC website the Rating Office team is always ready to help, please contact us.

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Watch: sean borg’s jubatus establishes new malta to marzamemi course record at marzamemi race.

• May 19, 2024

Previous record set in 2009

Jubatus, skippered by Sean Borg etched their names in history during the International Yacht Paints Marzamemi Weekend when they smashed the Malta to Marzamemi race record. 

The new record now stands at 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 54 seconds.  The previous record was set by Strait Dealer in 2009 and stood at 6 hours 10 minutes 17 seconds.

The Royal Malta Yacht Club recently played host to an eagerly anticipated weekend at one of its beloved Sicilian haunts. The club welcomed a diverse fleet of racing and cruising vessels departing from Marsamxett Harbour for a challenging 60-nautical-mile journey to Marzamemi.

Among the fleet was Barong D, a majestic 110ft Wally yacht skippered by Andre Rossignaud. In contrast was Pep, a J92 skippered by Mark Camilleri, proving that size is no barrier to competitive spirit on the water.

Race Officer Jonathan Sammut divided the fleet into two Classes. The IRC Racers and IRC Cruisers were the first to leave, with the RMYC Cruisers fleet following them five minutes later. 

The race started with a fresh force 5 wind and a moderate swell from the northwest however wind started to shift as they progressed towards Sicily. Initially, wind speeds ranged from 15 knots however as the first boats started to reach Capo Passero the wind started to hit gusts of 30 knots. 

“Whilst the start was a perfect beam reach of 15 knots, the last hour before reaching Capo Passerso the wind was hitting gusts of 30 knots which are perfect conditions for Jubatus, however the last leg towards the finish was tough making it very difficult for the crew to control the boat. Nonetheless, we are thrilled at having beaten such a long-standing record,” Jubatus skipper Borg said.

Despite encountering strong weather, the overall conditions ensured that all the fleet arrived in Marzamemi in good time, albeit some enduring a bit of a beating along the way.

Even though the fleet was divided into racing and cruising classes, both categories were not short of competitive zeal.

Notably, in the RMYC Cruising Class, Code Zero stood out. Helmed by the father-and-son duo Matthew and Seb Miceli Demajo.  At just 11 years old, Seb was the youngest participant in the race.  In spite of his young age, Seb is an experienced Optimist Class sailor, who is set to represent Malta in the upcoming Optimist World Championships, while simultaneously honing his skills in keelboat racing.  Code Zero claimed line honours in this class only being pipped to first on corrected time by Paul Ellul’s Lucy X.

Forecasted with light conditions for the return leg, predictions hinted at the challenge ahead for boats to meet the cut-off time. Despite being the closest contenders to finish the race home,  Jubatus were unable to beat the wind, or lack of, gods and regrettably, all boats were forced to retire in the end.

Adrian Gauci Borda, Rear Commodore (Sailing) at the Royal Malta Yacht Club, noted, “Despite the weather preventing the fleet from completing the journey home, the leg to Marzamemi certainly compensated for it. Witnessing Jubatus establish a new course record was truly special – congratulations to the crew.”

During the weekend stay in Marzamemi, crews and friends enjoyed a wine tasting and a visit to an agriturismo where an impromptu tug of war between crews took place adding to the fun element of the weekend.

Following the event, a prize-giving evening was held at the Royal Malta Yacht Club in the presence of Mr Andrew Magri Overend, Group CEO of MacMed Group, and representatives of International Yacht Paints in Malta.

The next offshore sailing event hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club will be the Camilleri Marine Ragusa Regatta scheduled to take place between June 7-9.

International Yacht Paints Marzamemi Weekend Results

IRC Class 1

1st – Jubatus (Sean Borg)  – 1st Overall, 1st In Class, Race Record Holder

1st – Sail Away (Ray Schembri)

IRC Cruisers 

1st – Kon Tiki (Ferdinand Grech)

2nd – Dimm (Kevin Pisani Zammit)

RMYC Cruisers 

1st – Lucy X (Paul Ellul)

2nd – Code Zero (Matthew Miceli Demajo / Seb Miceli Demajo)

3rd – Cloud Spotter (John De Giorgio)

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Races and Regattas Guide 2024: Summer of Sailing Festivals

Get set for summer with our races and regattas guide!

With a wealth of weekend to week-long dinghy and yacht racing festivals in 2024 – hosted by some of our finest inland, river and coastal venues – whatever your boat, holiday allowance or budget, there is a regatta for you!

Whether you’re looking for races and regattas in Ireland, wanting to fill up your diary with all the East Coast events, or keen for an insider tip for Cowes Week, our 2024 races and regattas guide has it all.

NORTH – Races and Regattas

Bassenthwaite week.

3-11 August, Bassenthwaite SC, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria

OVERVIEW: Nine days of racing in the beautiful Lake District, with a great family environment. Camping available on site and a full social programme for all ages. Mix of fleet and handicap racing, with some races run as a series whilst others are one-offs. Excellent value summer race week and one of the most popular open events in the north of England.

INSIDER TIP: Discounted ‘early bird’ entries open from 2 April.

SPONSOR: Craftinsure

WEBSITE:   bassweek.org.uk

FILEY REGATTA

13-14 July, Filey SC, Filey Bay, North Yorkshire

OVERVIEW: Great family-friendly open regatta over two days with three or four races per day. Sail in four handicap fleets in beautiful Filey Bay. Food and drink available from the beach side clubhouse all weekend. Email  [email protected]  for more details.

INSIDER TIP: Camping and parking available in Filey Country Park just a five-minute walk away.

WEBSITE: fileysc.org.uk

LORD BIRKETT MEMORIAL TROPHY

6-7 July, Ullswater Yacht Club, Pooley Bridge, Cumbria OVERVIEW: Ullswater Yacht Club’s biggest event of the year is the iconic long-distance Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy. This quest for the ‘Holy Grail’ of a Birkett win attracts keen sailors from national champions to novices in a huge range of different boats. A festival of sailing!

INSIDER TIP: Entries are now open on the dedicated Birkett website.

SPONSOR: Magic Marine

WEBSITE: ullswaterycbirkett.org

EAST – Races and Regattas

Aldeburgh regatta.

11-15 August, Aldeburgh Junior & Youth Regatta

18-23 August, Aldeburgh Regatta, Aldeburgh YC, Suffolk

OVERVIEW: Aldeburgh Junior & Youth regatta is for all ages up to 21 years old. All boats welcome, with a coached regatta fleet for RS Tera sailors. Aldeburgh Regatta the following week is open to all classes of keelboats, dinghies & cruisers. Racing each day with social events throughout the week. WEBSITE:  aldeburghyc.org.uk

BLACKWATER CLUB WEEK 

18-23 August 2024, Blackwater SC, Heybridge, Essex

OVERVIEW: A flagship event in the calendar at Blackwater SC, Club Week offers a fun week of sailing, racing and socialising on the river with fleets ranging from Optimists to Fast Cruisers, and a packed social programme. The club also has its 125th Anniversary Regatta on Saturday 20 July.  

WEBSITE: blackwatersailingclub.org.uk   

BRANCASTER STAITHE SAILING WEEK

6-10 August, Brancaster Staithe SC, Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk

OVERVIEW: Brancaster Staithe Sailing Week is a multi-class open regatta with daily races at sea for Senior fleets and in the harbour for Junior fleets. Briefing is on Monday 5 August and there are social events during the week. Registration is online via the website.

INSIDER TIP: Competitive and friendly racing for all the family.

WEBSITE:   bssc.net

BURNHAM WEEK

24-31 August, Royal Burnham YC, Burnham on Crouch, Essex,

OVERVIEW:  A friendly competitive regatta with a colourful mix of cruisers, day boats and dinghies. There is a class for everyone whether IRC, local handicap, new to racing or experienced. One design classes are a welcoming and friendly group. A variety of courses keeps interest piqued and the race committee listens to competitors ensuring that needs are met throughout. Family friendly with a full social calendar. A great  way to round off your summer! INSIDER TIP:  Book your mooring early and ensure you enter when the early bird discount is valid. Follow on social media @burnham_week on Instagram or Facebook to keep up to date with news. WEBSITE:  burnhamweek.com

6-12 July, East Anglian Offshore Racing Association 

OVERVIEW: This year EAORA celebrates its 75th anniversary – and a memorable EAORA Week is planned to mark the occasion. It will start with the RORC East Coast Race from Harwich to Ostend (Belgium) on Saturday 6 July, followed by the Medway YC Cannonball Trophy race from Ostend to Breskens (Netherlands) the following day.

A series of shorter races from harbour to harbour within the Zeeland Delta will finish with a prizegiving party at Hellevoetsluis on Friday 12 July, leaving a clear weekend for the passage home. Traditionally some boats used the week as the delivery trip for a holiday in the Dutch inland waters.

Stopovers are yet to be finalised, but are expected to include Veere, Zierikzee, Sint Annaland, Willemstad and Hellevoetsluis – delightful historic towns with excellent facilities and plentiful restaurants. The silverware at the end of the week is very special too!

SPONSORS:  DXB Pump & Power and Fox’s Chandlery

WEBSITE:  eaora.org.uk

HORNING OPEN REGATTA WEEK 

29   July-2 August, Horning SC, Norfolk Broads OVERVIEW:  The annual Open Regatta at Horning SC sees the River Bure at Horning become a hive of activity with racing from 9am-6pm every day outside the clubhouse. Races for Dinghies, Keelboats and River Cruisers – and great for spectators too! INSIDER TIP:  There are great socials taking place every night, the club invites you to come and get involved! WEBSITE:  horning-sailing.club

MERSEA WEEK

18-23 August, West Mersea YC & Dabchicks SC, Mersea Island, Essex

OVERVIEW: This event attracts scores of competitors and it is anticipated that this year, the 50th anniversary of this popular event, there will be even more. With a full and varied racing programme and a busy social scene, Mersea Week is all about racing on the beautiful Blackwater and enjoying fabulous social events ashore.

INSIDER TIP: Free moorings for visiting yachtsmen and women.

SPONSORS: Marinestore Chandlery, Adnams, Fenn Wright, Oakheart Property, Dolphin Sails, Allen Brothers, Mersea Homes, West Mersea Marine, West PM.

WEBSITE:   merseaweek.org

NORTH WEST NORFOLK WEEK

20-27 July, North West Norfolk Sailing Association, at various locations along the north and west coast of Norfolk

OVERVIEW:  Competitive but fun family regatta week with close racing at a different club every day including Snettisham Beach, Wells, Ouse Amateur, Blakeney and Overy Staithe. This year’s 74th anniversary regatta is for National 12, Supernova, Streaker, ILCA & Allcomers, with daily trophies, weekly trophies, lady and junior helm prizes. Camping available for great value, so if you usually only sail at your own club, why not take a chance, hitch up your boat and join one of the friendliest events in the sailing calendar! Great combination of daily racing and family beach holiday.

INSIDER TIP:  It is extremely addictive! Most people having been once will return year after year.

WEBSITE:  norfolkweek.co.uk

OULTON WEEK

18-23 August, Waveney and Oulton Broad YC, Suffolk

OVERVIEW: A premier week’s racing on The Broads! Six days of racing for dinghies, keelboats and river cruisers: fast and slow dinghy handicap fleets; ILCAs; Optimists; Norfolk Dinghies; Hansa 303; Mixed One Designs (Waveneys, Broads and Yare & Bures, Squibs); River Cruisers; Mixed Keelboat. Busy social programme includes Commodore’s Reception. Entry fees for helms aged 18 or under, £1 per race; everyone else £2 per race. INSIDER TIP: Find accommodation afloat if possible and bring your children – they’ll love it!  WEBSITE:  wobyc.com

OVERY STAITHE REGATTA

23-24 August, Overy Staithe SC, Burnham Overy Staithe, Norfolk

OVERVIEW: Sailing races with general handicap and some class racing for local boats: OKs, Sharpies, Europes, Mirror 10s and clinker-built boats. WEBSITE: overystaithesc.org.uk

PYEFLEET WEEK

3-9 August, Brightlingsea SC, Brightlingsea, Essex

OVERVIEW:  Kick off your summer holiday with a week of sailing on the East Coast. Pyefleet Week offers great racing for a wide range of classes from Optimists to Moths, plus a full social programme for all ages. With fantastic local shops, a historic lido, its own beach, a campsite on the doorstep and the beautiful Brightlingsea Harbour and River Colne as a backdrop, it’s a great place to holiday for all the family.

INSIDER TIP:  Book accommodation early, pack your fancy dress, bucket and spade and prepare yourself for a good old fashioned regatta week! WEBSITE:   pyefleetweek.com

RAMSGATE WEEK

11-16 August, Royal Temple YC, Ramsgate, Kent

OVERVIEW:  Ramsgate Week is widely recognised as the ‘friendly regatta’ and the alternative to Cowes. After a challenging day’s sailing between the North and South Forelands you’re a five-minute walk from your berth to the Royal Temple Yacht Club where you can relax whilst enjoying the renowned hospitality. 

INSIDER TIP: The shifting sands can catch navigators out, pay attention to your depth gauge.  SPONSORS: Icom, Shepherd Neame, Kent Decking Supplies, Ramsgate Town Council, Page & Sons Ltd, Miles and Barr, North Sails, Riga Marine, Turner Jackson + Day Associates, Ramsgate Sailing School, Practical Car & Van Rental, Trews Workwear. WEBSITE:  ramsgateweek.com

ROYAL BURNHAM YC WHITSUN REGATTA

25-27 May, The Royal Burnham YC, Burnham on Crouch, Essex

OVERVIEW: A fun filled weekend with a broad selection of racing offered for handicap cruisers, keelboat classes, dinghies and multihulls, with both committee boat and club line starts. The racing is complemented by a full array of social events in the clubhouse both during the day and in the evenings.

WEBSITE: rbyc.uk

ROYAL HARWICH YACHT CLUB

10-11 August, Summer Regatta; 19-23 August 2024, Junior Race Week; Royal Harwich YC, Woolverstone, Suffolk

OVERVIEW: RHYC’s stunning clubhouse on the banks of the beautiful River Orwell estuary provides a fabulous location for both dinghy sailing and yacht cruising – or for relaxing on the lawn for a meal or drink with a view! Join the club for its Summer Regatta (Ajax, Dinghies, ILCAs) or for young sailors, the club’s popular annual Junior Race Week.

WEBSITE: royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk 

THREE RIVERS RACE

1-2 June, Horning SC, Norfolk Broads

OVERVIEW:  A true spectacle, the Three Rivers Race sees upwards of 100 boats leave Horning Sailing Club to participate in the tough 50-mile endurance race, which will see competitors sail through the night, across the Broads, and lowering their masts under three bridges.   INSIDER TIP:  Great spectator points include the Medieval Potter Heigham Bridge and Acle Bridge, where exciting mast lowering/raising can be seen.

SPONSOR:  Yachtmaster Insurance

WEBSITE:  3rr.uk  and  horning-sailing.club

WHITSTABLE WEEK

31 July-4 August, Whitstable YC, Whitstable, Kent

OVERVIEW: Whitstable Week is a summer all-classes regatta for all ages and abilities. Whitstable is a great place to sail offering relatively sheltered sea sailing with easy beach launching and committee boat starts off the club. WYC is situated both on the beach and in the centre of town which has a huge choice of shops, pubs and restaurants. The ‘week’ now runs from Wednesday to Sunday which means fewer days holiday to take part in a full five days of racing, two races per day. There are social events every evening culminating with Commodore’s Cocktails and a Summer Ball.

INSIDER TIP: Whitstable Week gives visiting sailors the opportunity to take advantage of a fabulous holiday town, great sailing and amazing socials – it’s not to be missed!

SPONSOR:  Holidaycottages.co.uk

WEBSITE:  wyc.org.uk/on-the-water/Whitstable_Week

WROXHAM WEEK

21-28 July, Norfolk Broads YC, Wroxham, Norfolk

OVERVIEW: Fabulous week full of competitive racing and lively socials. Suitable for all ages and abilities with something for everyone during this exciting week. There is a full racing programme throughout to enjoy, as well as social events including fun quizzes, children’s entertainment, rowing races, duck races and an End of Regatta Party. Members and visitor’s welcome! INSIDER TIP:  Prebook your races and social events online before the week begins. Call the office on 01603 782808 for more information or help with booking. WEBSITE:  nbyc.co.uk

SOUTH – Races and Regattas

Bourne end week.

24-27 May, Upper Thames SC, Bourne End, Bucks 

OVERVIEW: UTSC offers river racing at its best, on the widest stretch of the non-tidal Thames. Featuring the Thames A Rater National Championships, Merlin Rocket River Championships, International OK River Championships, class racing for Wayfarers, plus Fast Handicap. Camping is just behind the clubhouse, quality catering every evening, with the Saturday supper included in the sailing entry.

INSIDER TIP: Don’t miss the famous sunset cocktail party, this year on Sunday, followed by a tasty buffet dinner and music from a lively band that’ll fill the dance floor!

WEBSITE: utsc.org.uk

BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK 

15-19 July, British Classic Yacht Club, Cowes Yacht Haven /Royal Yacht Squadron, Isle of Wight

OVERVIEW: A new five-day format for 2024 will allow more time for owners and crew to set up and pack down before and after the regatta. Racing will again be overseen by the Royal Yacht Squadron , with new additions to deliver competitive fun racing for all the fleet, including an Around the Island Race (with optional inshore race for smaller yachts), a Forts Race, and a pursuit race. Camaraderie and dockside fun ashore, including a Pontoon Party. For owners keen for extra racing, British Classic Week has also teamed up with the Taittinger Regatta at the Royal Solent YC (12-14 July) to put on a feeder race between the two regattas. 

SPONSORS:  Lead sponsors Spirit Yachts, Classic Marine, One Sails, David Murrin Global Forecaster, Suffolk Yacht Harbour.

WEBSITE:  britishclassicweek.co.uk

CHICHESTER HARBOUR RACE WEEK 

19-23 August, organised by Chichester Harbour Federation at Hayling Island SC, Hampshire

Looking for more Classic races and regattas? Check out our partner Classic Boat Magazine’s Classic Races and Regattas Guide 2024

OVERVIEW:  Family Regatta week with class starts for Fireball, Flying Fifteen, Finn, 29er, RS200, 2000, RS Aero 7, RS Aero 5, Solo, RS Feva, Optimist & RS Elites. Combined class starts for RS Aero 6 & Byte & Europe, ILCA 6 & 4, RS Tera Pro & Tera Sport, Hadron H2 & D Zero. Handicap fleets: Fast PY 1034 & below, Fast Asymmetric PY 938 & below, Slow Asymmetric PY 939-1006 , Medium PY 1035-1220. Entry in 2023 was 399.

INSIDER TIP:  Early bird entry fees available from 1 May until 30 June. Four race areas within Chichester Harbour with the Elites just past Harbour entrance.

SPONSORS:  Event sponsor Bentley Walker, supplemented by Chichester Harbour Gin, Raymarine and Optimum Timers.

WEBSITE:  chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net

COWES SPRING CLASSICS

17-19 May, Cowes Corinthian YC/Shepards Marina, Cowes, Isle of Wight

OVERVIEW:  Cowes Spring Classics is a regatta for classic yachts designed before 1970, including: Cruisers & Cruiser Racers, Affordable Classic Cruisers around 25ft, Gaff Rigged Yachts & Pilot Cutters, Day Boats & Raters, Classic Metre Yachts plus Modern Spirit of Tradition Yachts. Racing organised by Cowes Corinthian YC. Non-racing yachts and motorboats also welcome.

SPONSORS:  Classic Marine, West System, British Classic Yacht Club, Simon Winter Marine, Mermaid Gin, Classic Boat.

WEBSITE:  cowesspringclassics.com

27 July-2 August, Cowes Week Ltd / Cowes, Isle of Wight

OVERVIEW: Cowes Week is one of the UK’s longest running and most successful sporting events and is a key highlight of the British sporting summer. The regatta sees up to 600 boats in up to 40 different classes take part in seven days of world-class racing. To add to the on-the-water action, the lively après-sail atmosphere at Cowes Week means there are plenty of social and exciting onshore activities for sailors and the spectators who visit Cowes each year.

INSIDER TIP: Be part of the action, enter online  www.cowesweek.co.uk  or book a spot on a  spectator boat .

SPONSORS:  Musto, Mount Gay,  Red Funnel , Cowes Yacht Haven,  Seahorse Magazine ,  Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting ; Official Charities: Tall Ships Youth Trust & RNLI .

WEBSITE:  cowesweek.co.uk

MUDEFORD WEEK

4-8 August, Mudeford SC, Christchurch, Dorset

OVERVIEW: Family racing at a safe, sheltered location in Christchurch Harbour: a friendly club event which attracts novice as well as expert sailors. Socials including a meal at The Beach Hut, fish and chips on the barge and prizegiving. Fun events to include paddleboarding, kayaks and a treasure hunt around the harbour.

INSIDER TIP: Have a sail around before racing starts to locate the shallows.

WEBSITE: mudefordsc.org

25-30 August, Parkstone YC, Poole, Dorset

OVERVIEW: Bournemouth Digital Poole Week offers six afternoons of racing in the beautiful waters of Poole Harbour for dinghies and small keelboats, typically attracting over 150 entries. Class starts for fleets including ILCA 6s and 7s, Flying Fifteens, Darts, Wayfarers, RS200s and XODs, and handicap too. Competitive and family-friendly. On-the-water coaching for all fleets, great après-sail socials, daily prize-givings and much more.

INSIDER TIP: Study the course charts! And/or ask a native. Some courses use the full expanse of Poole Harbour, so it’s useful to know where you’re going.

SPONSORS:  Bournemouth Digital, Badger Beers

WEBSITE:   PooleWeek.org

SOUTH WEST – Races and Regattas

Babbacombe regatta.

22-23 June, Babbacombe Corinthian SC, St Marychurch, Torquay, Devon.

OVERVIEW: The 197 th Babbacombe dinghy regatta offers two days of racing in beautiful Babbacombe Bay. Junior and novice sailors especially welcome to come along and enjoy some fun racing. The Commodore invites all regatta sailors and their guests to a reception on the Saturday night. 

WEBSITE: babbacombe-sc.com

CAMEL WEEK 

9-14 August, Rock Sailing and Waterski Club, Rock, North Cornwall

OVERVIEW: An open regatta for dinghies and catamarans combining handicap and pursuit races in the beautiful Camel Estuary or Padstow Bay, complete with sandy beaches and breeze. There is also the John Bray Cornish Holidays Junior Camel Week, an event aimed at the under 18s, 25-31 July.

INSIDER TIP: The format combines well with a family Cornish holiday

SPONSORS: Sharp’s Brewery

WEBSITE:   rswsc.co.uk

DARTMOUTH ROYAL REGATTA SAILING WEEK

24-31 August, Royal Dart YC, Kingswear, Dartmouth, Devon 

OVERVIEW:  Dartmouth Royal Regatta is a family orientated regatta that offers competitive racing in Start Bay and the River Dart, with a wide range of activities for all the family, including a funfair and firework display on the Friday evening. The dinghy regattas start the week’s racing with the Juniors at RDYC 24-26 August and Moore Kingston Smith Financial Dinghies at Dittisham 24-27 August. The yacht regatta follows with the passage race from Brixham to Dartmouth on Tuesday 27 August, and racing in Start Bay 28-31 August. There will be classes for IRC and SWYTCF rated yachts, one design fleets, classics, dayboats and gaffers depending on the number of entries. There are White Sail Family Fun events on Friday & Saturday 30-31 August. NB: The Regatta is a week later this year.

INSIDER TIP:  Dartmouth Royal Regatta is very popular with visiting yachts so make sure you book your accommodation early. Details available on the website.

SPONSORS:  Salcombe Gin, Moore Kingston Smith, Henri Lloyd, Paradigm Norton, Savills, Raymarine, Ancasta, Rockfish, Twisted Marine.  

WEBSITE:  dartmouthsailingweek.com

FALMOUTH CLASSICS

14-16 June, Port of Falmouth, Cornwall

OVERVIEW: One of the largest UK Classic events held in the delightful setting of the River Fal and Falmouth Bay. Three races for fourteen classes, two on the water parades, receptions, a maritime village and the International Falmouth Shanty Festival with over 70 groups. One of three events that qualify for the West Country Classics Series sponsored by Hattiers Rum.

SPONSORS: Partner Sponsors: Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and Falmouth Haven, Teamac, Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Classic Boat, West Briton, plus major and event partners.

WEBSITE:  falmouthclassics.org.uk

FALMOUTH SAILING WEEK 

11-17 August, Falmouth, Cornwall.

OVERVIEW:  Seven days of varied racing for over 20 classes ranging from IRC yachts to dinghies. Starting with a skippers’ briefing at the Royal Cornwall YC on Saturday 10 August. The regatta is hosted by six clubs starting with Helford River SC (11th) then visiting Mylor YC (12th), Restronguet SC (13th), Royal Cornwall YC (15th), St Mawes SC (16th) and Flushing SC (17th) for the final regatta and overall prizegiving. Multi class options for entry including classes for dinghies. Racing in the harbour, Carrick Roads or Falmouth Bay. Daily entries, a three-day series and seven-day entry all possible. The Port of Falmouth Sailing Association has held entry fees at 2023 prices. All entrants under 18 are FREE this year!

INSIDER TIP:  Register early for the best entry fees. There’s a fantastic social scene shoreside with music events in Falmouth throughout the regatta week.

SPONSORS:  Mylor Yacht Harbour, Hine Downing Solicitors, Mainbrace Rum, Ancasta International Boat Sales and The Flip Flop Shop; Super Yacht Services Falmouth, Falmouth Town Council, and South-West Bars and Events. New sponsors for FSW24 are Velos Insurance Group, Evelyn Partners and River Boatyard.  Additional class prize sponsors are Indidog Eatery, The St Mawes Scent Room and The Mariners Supply Company

WEBSITE:  falmouthweek.co.uk/sailing-week

FOWEY ROYAL SAILING REGATTA 

18-24 August, Fowey Sailing Committee: Royal Fowey YC & Fowey Gallants SC, South Cornwall

OVERVIEW:  Fowey Regatta and Carnival is one of the UK’s best known sailing events with a long history, offering a full programme of racing for Troys, Fowey Rivers, Cruisers, Falmouth Working Boats and a handicap dinghy fleet. There are also many traditional land-based events, including the carnival procession, fireworks, crab-catching and harbour swim and live music. 

INSIDER TIP:  After racing gather at Royal Fowey YC or Fowey Gallants SC for great food and a good chat about the day’s events before prize-giving! WEBSITE:  foweyregatta.co.uk

NORTH DEVON YACHT CLUB OPEN WEEK 

10-17 August, North Devon YC, Instow, Bideford, North Devon

OVERVIEW: Sailing and racing for all with racing for dinghies (including Blaze and ILCA sub fleets), fast cats, Dart 15s and gaffers: pursuits, round-the-bay, cup races, regatta series and more! Fabulous sailing area with big breeze, fun waves and tides. Great value week at just £30 for adults, £20 cadets. INSIDER TIP: Family-friendly holiday location with social activities throughout.

WEBSITE: ndyc.org/sailing/open-week-2024

PASAB (Penzance Around Scilly and Back) 19-22 July 2024, Penzance SC, West Cornwall

OVERVIEW: Leg 1 is an overnight race from Penzance to St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, starting at 19.00 Friday 19 July; Leg 2 is a race around the islands starting on the Sunday at 09.30; Leg 3 starts from St Mary’s on Monday 22 July at 09.30 and races back to Penzance.

INSIDER TIP: Conditions can be challenging and exciting. The Islands are unique and stunning and a great experience for all.

WEBSITE: pzsc.org.uk/pasab

PLYMOUTH RACE WEEK 

11-14 July, Royal Western Yacht Club of England, Queen Anne’s Battery Plymouth

OVERVIEW:  There will be three great events happening simultaneously during this four-day regatta, taking place over three race courses in Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Also known as ‘The Yachtsman’s Regatta’, the event incorporates the IRC Southwest Championships, SW YTC Championships and J24 National Championships, alongside a full entertainment package, including a roast, live music, BBQ and crew party. 

INSIDER TIP:  The Breakwater provides excellent shelter against big seas and coupled with the natural amphitheatre of Plymouth Sound, offers fantastic racing conditions and spectator vantage points in order to watch the action close up! 

WEBSITE:  rwyc.org/club-racing/plymouthraceweek

PORT OF PLYMOUTH SAILING ASSOCIATION DINGHY REGATTA

8-9 June, hosted by PPSA at The Mount Batten Sailing Centre, Plymouth

OVERVIEW:  Fleets ranging from rookies and beginners to asymmetric classes, also including the Solo Western Series Championships, GP14 Southern Area Championships, Phantom and OK open meetings. An excellent social venue with Saturday barbecue and some of the best sailing waters in the UK. Any class with more than six entries can have their own results and there is a team entry as well.

INSIDER TIP:  The tidal flows in Plymouth are affected by the two major rivers running into the Sound – look at tidal flow charts to see where there are back eddies.

SPONSORS : Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre, Port of Plymouth, Freshwave, Dinghy Shack, Plymouth Youth Sailing, Port of Plymouth Sailing Association.

WEBSITE: dinghy-regatta.ppsa.org.uk

SALCOMBE YACHT CLUB REGATTA

11-16 August, Salcombe YC, Salcombe, Devon

OVERVIEW: SYC looks forward to welcoming members and visitors alike to its 2024 regatta, once again to be sponsored by Salcombe Gin. The club hopes that the thought of summer sailing, fantastic racing, its SYC friendly welcome, golden beaches, the superbly located Yacht Club Terrace high above the race course with exceptional viewing of the racing, and the fun ‘Après Sail’ social life, will all encourage you to take part in the SYC Salcombe Gin Regatta 2024!  

SPONSOR: Salcombe Gin

INSIDER TIP: The club encourages all dinghy sailors to base themselves on Mill Bay Beach for the week and will offer a trolley transfer service at the beginning and end of the week. For more info and local accommodation visit the website. 

WEBSITE: https://www.salcombeyc.org.uk/  

TORBAY DINGHY REGATTA

27-28 July, Royal Torbay YC, Torquay, Devon

OVERVIEW:  Two-day regatta with racing for PY dinghies (asymmetric and non-asymmetric) and junior classes in stunning Tor Bay on the English Riviera. Incorporating the Albacore Class Southern Area Championships. Fast and easy access to the sailing waters, lots of accommodation within easy walking distance and great Saturday night social.

INSIDER TIP:  Enquiries from class associations are welcome.

WEBSITE:   rtyc.org/event/torbay-dinghy-regatta-2024

TORBAY ROYAL REGATTA 

24-26 August, Royal Torbay YC, Torquay, Devon

OVERVIEW:  Racing over three days for IRC, Cruiser Classes, J/24s and Sportsboats. Competitors can expect fun and competitive racing on the fine sailing waters of Tor Bay. Free berthing is included in the entry fees and from the sheltered harbour there is quick and easy access to the race areas. The town offers an enviable range of accommodation, restaurants, bars and car parks all within walking distance of the club and harbour. Competitors and their families can be sure of a very warm welcome and will enjoy a friendly atmosphere, cordial hospitality and great shoreside entertainment.

INSIDER TIP:  The English Riviera is a great place to be during August! NOR on the website and further information available from  [email protected]                                   

WEBSITE:  rtyc.org/event/torbay-royal-regatta

WALES – Races and Regattas

Abersoch dinghy week .

21-26 July, South Caernarvonshire YC, Abersoch, North Wales

OVERVIEW:  Racing for all classes of asymmetric, doublehanded and singlehanded dinghies in Cardigan Bay’s fabulous waters. Continuing on with the new format started in 2022: committee boat starts with two shorter races back-to-back per day and varied courses, with the traditional starts from the club line as well, being wind dependent. Coached regatta fleet for the novice sailor/new racer. Full social programme.

INSIDER TIP:  Abersoch’s golden sandy beaches and the spectacular waters of Cardigan Bay allow SCYC to offer a fabulous week of competitive dinghy racing.

SPONSOR:  Abersoch Boatyard

WEBSITE:  scyc.co.uk/event/dinghy-week

ABERSOCH KEELBOAT WEEK 

19-23 August, South Caernarvonshire YC, Abersoch, North Wales

OVERVIEW:  SCYC is delighted to be organising and hosting AKW again, renowned for 40 years as a fun regatta with a serious edge. Fleets: Small Keelboats; IRC1; IRC2; White Sails (Non-Spinnaker) (split into two fleets); Sports Boats (new fleet). YTC scoring for Small Keelboats and White Sails. IRC classes: committee boat starts. Others: club or committee boat starts, using club marks.

INSIDER TIP:  A relaxed atmosphere off the water complements the competition on it. Practice day on Sunday 18 August.

SPONSORS:  One Sails (South)

WEBSITE:   scyc.co.uk/event/keelboat-week

CARDIGAN BAY REGATTA

9-11 August, New Quay YC, Ceredigion, West Wales

OVERVIEW: Three-day annual event with sailing races for all classes plus swimming races and fun events for children and families, and sandcastle building competitions on the first day. New Quay is one of the oldest regattas in the UK, first being held in 1829 – the 2024 regatta will be the 148th Cardigan Bay Regatta!

WEBSITE: cardiganbayregatta.co.uk 

MENAI STRAIT REGATTAS

5-17 August, Royal Anglesey YC/Royal Welsh YC, North Wales

OVERVIEW: The Menai Strait Regattas is one of the oldest classic boat regattas in Wales if not in the UK. The Menai Strait Regattas have used the same venues since the early 1800s and are pleased to have clubs locally and also north-west clubs mainly from the Merseyside/Wirral area competing. 

INSIDER TIP: There is no charge to watch the racing at any of the clubs along the Menai Strait. 

WEBSITE: menaistraitregattas.org.uk

SCOTLAND – Races and Regattas

Findhorn week.

22-26 July, Royal Findhorn YC, Findhorn, Moray, NE Scotland

OVERVIEW: A family dinghy week for both Handicap and Class (depending on number of boats) racing. There is also a separate Novice event for children. All taking place in Findhorn Bay. There is an extensive social programme alongside the sailing which makes this a great holiday for the whole family. INSIDER TIP: Get your accommodation in Findhorn booked early. SPONSOR: Pinnell & Bax

WEBSITE:  rfyc.co.uk/sailing/events  

SCOTTISH SERIES

24-27 May, Clyde Cruising Club, Tarbert, Loch Fyne, West Scotland

OVERVIEW: Three fleets: IRC, One Design and CYCA. IRC and OD classes will race on courses set using remote controlled SmartMarks. Another innovation for 2024 is the inclusion of an ‘Introductory Class’ to support first-time regatta skippers and crew. CYCA courses will be set using pre-laid static marks positioned strategically to allow a variety of racing formats. IRC and CYCA boats will sail the Sunday Inch Passage Race.

INSIDER TIP: A full social programme will be run over the four days at Tarbert in the marquee at the marina.

SPONSORS: Kylemark, Holland House & CGL Facades

WEBSITE:  scottishseries.co.uk

WEST HIGHLAND YACHTING WEEK

27 July-2 August, Craobh/Oban/Tobermory

OVERVIEW:  This is one of the leading international yachting events, in stunning surroundings, with a winning combination of round the buoys and passage racing, supported by an excellent social programme. West Highland Yachting Week also allows competitors to enter for individual races or the passage race series if they do not want to take part in the whole week. 

INSIDER TIP: The passage race series is a great way to try out the event for the first time or with a young family.

SPONSORS: Tunnocks, The Majestic Line, Lochnell Boatyard

WEBSITE:   whyw.co.uk

IRELAND – Races and Regattas

Cork week .

15-19 July, Royal Cork YC, Crosshaven, Co. Cork

OVERVIEW: The biennial Volvo Cork Week regatta running since 1978 is shaping up to be another fantastic iteration of this long-standing event. The secret of the event’s success cannot be attributed to any single aspect of its organisation but has been built on the combination of friendly competition, diverse racing, enthusiastic volunteers, and the good humour of thousands of visitors.

INSIDER TIP: Get there early to garner some local knowledge and enjoy the après sail!

SPONSORS: Volvo, Musto, Cork County Council, Port of Cork, Heineken.

WEBSITE:  corkweek.ie

CHANNEL ISLANDS – Races and Regattas

Jersey regatta  .

13-15 September, Royal Channel Islands YC, St Helier YC and St Catherine’s SC, Jersey

OVERVIEW: The Carey Olsen Jersey Regatta provides three days of fun and competitive racing coupled with a full ‘après racing’ social programme alongside the island’s vibrant nightlife. As ever the 26 th edition will offer a warm welcome to all, locals and visitors alike, with up to two races on Friday afternoon and three back-to-back races on both Saturday and Sunday: IRC cruiser/racer, sportsboat and Quarter Ton classes; RYA YTC cruiser/racer classes; dayboat, dinghy and sport catamaran classes. Included in the regatta programme is the ever-hotly contested GBR IRC Channel Islands Championship, open to all local and visiting IRC boats.

INSIDER TIP: ‘Early bird’ discounts until 23 August; book early for ferries and accommodation ( jersey.com ) as it is very busy in September; ship chandlers and refuelling stations are located at St Helier Harbour and St Aubin’s Harbour. 

SPONSOR: Offshore law firm Carey Olsen; co-sponsor Ports of Jersey – Jersey Marinas – complementary berthing.

WEBSITE: jerseyregatta.com

Whether your right up north, gearing up for Findhorn Week, searching for races and regattas in wales, or heading into the solent for Cowes Week, our races and regattas guide and calendar has you covered.

Interested in Classic Races and Regattas?

Our partner brand Classic Boat Magazine has the full Classic races and regattas 2024 calendar just for you!

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