Clipper Events has launched its schedule of iconic races for Summer 2024, which offer the chance to compete in three unforgettable offshore Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) races, regardless of sailing experience.
Sail on board a Clipper 68 ocean racing yacht in the RORC Cervantes Trophy, Salcombe Gin Morgan Cup and Cowes-Dinard-St Malo races. Led by professional sailing staff (Skipper, First and Second Mate) who are highly experienced in racing and coaching on board the Clipper Race and Clipper Events fleet, participants can sign up to race regardless of sailing background: Clipper Events has hosted a range of clients from seasoned sailors to complete beginners, offering the thrill of offshore racing in a friendly, encouraging and social atmosphere. All events take place over a long weekend, making it simple to fit around work commitments, but pack a punch. Find out more about each race below:
Cervantes Trophy Race – 19-23 April
The first race in the series starts from the iconic port of Cowes on the Isle of Wight, racing around 150 nautical miles across the English Channel to Le Havre in France.
The race will get underway from the Royal Yacht Squadron start line off Cowes and feature a relatively straightforward course across the Channel to Le Havre. Race markers are set according to the conditions, which being the English Channel, can vary from sun-soaked Champagne sailing to absolutely anything!
Image: Sail in an iconic race, no matter how much sailing experience you have.
This event offers the opportunity to experience two iconic ports, steeped in racing history. Cowes on the Isle of Wight is the start point for some of the world’s most iconic races, including the Rolex Fastnet Race, and then the stop in Le Havre enables crew to be hosted by the oldest yacht club in France Société des Regatés du Havre.
These races provide a unique opportunity to test your mettle and stamina in a competitive racing environment. Guided by seasoned professional Skippers and Mates, participants, whether novices or seasoned sailors, are assured a memorable race experience that promises both personal growth and the joy of sailing in a premier offshore event.
Click here for more information or to sign up.
Salcombe Gin Morgan Cup – 6-10 June
One for thrill-seekers and kicking off from Cowes, this rigorous 300nm race heads offshore of the UK’s south coast to the stunning Devon town of Dartmouth, with the Solent and English Channel serving up the range of conditions it is renowned for, providing plenty of opportunity for tactical and exhilarating sailing for everyone on board, as well as the chance to race alongside some of the best in the game.
Image: Race on board Clipper 68s, that have circumnavigated the world
This race is open to both novice sailors seeking a first taste of yacht racing and seasoned mariners looking for a new challenge. Regardless of your sailing background, the Morgan Cup promises an unparalleled and memorable race that combines the best elements of camaraderie, skill, and the sheer joy of offshore racing – all under the guidance of our professional Skippers and Mates.
Find out more on how to race here.
Image: Celebrate the amazing achievement of a successful weekend of racing with your crew mates
Cowes-Dinard-St Malo Race – 4-8/9 July
Described by RORC as ‘one of the jewels in the RORC programme,’ this race is one of the most historic, having been founded prior to RORC itself back in 1929. The 151 nautical mile race from Cowes across the Channel to St Malo is one of the most popular events on the calendar, and a bucket-list event for many sailors. Following a course that heads west of the Isle of Wight, out of the Solent and into the Channel, the racecourse features 150+ miles of offshore sailing, navigating the challenges of both the English Channel and large tides around the Channel Islands before finishing in the iconic walled city of St Malo.
Image: Experience racing alongside hundreds of other yachts in a historic event
Crew are warmly welcomed to the city, which is famed for its liveliness and old town filled with great places to eat and drink and enjoy the festivities of such a legendary event.
This race is truly unforgettable, whether you are an experienced sailor looking to tick it off the list, or complete beginner. It is a class race, filled with scenic landscapes as you race toward the Brittany coast and into St Malo, taking on a variety of weather conditions along the way and experiencing racing in a huge fleet of yachts taking part in the race.
Tick this historic race off the list- enquire now.
All race entry fees, professional instruction and a pre-race training day, food and accommodation on board and foul weather gear is provided, as well as an arrival dinner for each event giving crew a chance to meet each other ahead of the race getting underway. Once the races are complete, there will be a relaxed sail/motor back to Gosport HQ before heading home after a long weekend of adventure.
Ready to race? Get in touch via clipperevents.com
