Competitive Royal Ocean Racing Club sailing returns to Solent

A RACE around the Isle of Wight on 1st August will see the return to competitive racing at the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) – the first since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The race will replace the originally scheduled Channel Race and is open to Covid-19 compliant crews following government regulations in both the two-handed and family/same-household classes.

Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the 50-nautical mile race will adhere to the latest government guidelines and advice from the RYA and World Sailing.

The fleet will race anti-clockwise, heading westwards towards Yarmouth, leaving the Solent, past the shores of Lymington and Milford-on-Sea and rounding the famous Needles Lighthouse.

Competitors will make their way along the south-west coast of the Island to St. Catherine's Point before crossing Sandown Bay to round the Bembridge Ledge.

RORC Racing manager Chris Stone said: "It should be a very nice day of racing for those two-handed teams who can follow the guidelines and those sailing families/households who can do the same,"

"The staff and volunteers are really looking forward to Race the Wight as well; I think it's good for everyone."

For more information on the race, visit www.rorc.org