Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this roundup of sailing events coming up in 2014. Ed
Round The Island Race
Entries for the 2014 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, taking place on 21st June, will open on Friday 3rd January 2014 with the Notice of Race being simultaneously published online.
This annual one-day event sponsored by J.P. Morgan Asset Management and organised by the Island Sailing Club, is firmly established as one of the top sailing events on the international sporting calendar.
With The Island Sailing Club organising, hosting and managing the Race, and the Club’s new elected Commodore, John Dudley, summed up why he thinks this race means so much to so many, commenting:
“I am proud to be Commodore of the Club that runs this iconic event; a race where Cruisers and Racers alike are matched up against some of the leading sailors in the World making it a “Race for All”.
Cowes- Deauville Race
Next year promises to be a busy one at the Royal Southern YC. In addition to the Club’s Summer Series Regattas Graham Nixon (Sailing Committee Chairman) said “Our showpiece AVEVA Cowes-Deauville offshore event is on a high in its 52nd year. Thanks to the start of the Figaro this year and immense help from the Mayor of Deauville and Deauville Yacht Club, the inner basin at Deauville is being dredged and a new marina built over this winter. This will be the first event to be hosted in their new facilities. 2014 is definitely the year to add the Cowes-Deauville to your ‘To Do’ list.”
Commodores’ Cup
The Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup 2014, which will be based in Cowes, will start on Saturday 19th July 2014 and follow a similar format to previous years. A mixture of inshore races in the Solent, an offshore race in the English Channel and a race around the Island are included in the programme. This event will finish with a final race on Saturday 26th July 2014.
Starting in 1992 The Commodores’ Cup is an international three-boat team event using the IRC Rating system and is open to boats rated between 1.020 and 1.230, with only one boat rated above 1.150. It is an event popular with teams coming from all corners of the world and a number of countries having trials to select their respective participants.
Hoping to bridge an almost 30 year gap in Canadian Offshore racing, Sail Canada has announced its intention to lodge a challenge for the 2014 Commodores’ Cup by forming a three boat team of Canadian sailors.
Canada’s last foray into offshore team racing was at the 1985 Admiral’s Cup, where the three boat team raced against 17 other countries in the waters off Cowes. Since then, offshore team racing and Canadian involvement in such events has waned, but recently, there has been an upsurge of interest.
Royal Ocean Racing Club CEO, Eddie Warden Owen commented:
“The RORC is delighted to receive a challenge from Sail Canada for the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup. The team will receive a warm welcome and will be given every assistance to create a competitive team.”
Royal Ocean Racing Club
Several special regattas have been arranged by the RORC for 2014. As well as the Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup, these include:
18-20 April – Easter Challenge, Cowes
The first Solent-based event in the Club’s racing calendar, designed as a training weekend for those keen to improve their overall performance. This event attracted the UK’s top IRC boats to compete over three days of highly competitive racing in 2013.
13-15 June – IRC National Championship, Cowes
The RORC IRC National Championship has always taken place in the United Kingdom, but it is an open event to all and considered to be arguably the most competitive IRC championship in the world.
Yachts from Belgium, France, Germany and Ireland as well as the UK gathered in the Solent for the 2013 Championship. Andrew Pearce’s British Ker 40, Magnum 3 won the highly competitive Class One and was crowned overall RORC IRC National Champion 2013.
10 August – Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race, start Cowes
1,802 nautical mile non-stop race starting from Cowes, on 10th August 2014 – right after Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. Sevenstar sponsored the race in 2006 and 2010 when 30 yachts from nine different nations competed in a thrilling and world record breaking event with Groupama the winner.
Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week
Entries for the 2014 regatta opened back in August, and anyone thinking of taking part is encouraged to enter before midnight on December 31st 2013 to be in with a chance of winning a valuable prize in a draw.
There will be runner up prizes but the overall prize draw winner will receive a rebate on their entry fee, free berthing (at either Cowes Yacht Haven, Shepards Wharf Marina, or East Cowes Marina), use of a Volvo for a weekend plus a 25L Gill dry bag and Chatham Marine shoes for the full crew. The regatta takes place from 2-9 August 2014.
