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RORC - CHANNEL RACE
RacingOffshore

RORC - CHANNEL RACE

RORC Channel Race — round-trip Channel race from Cowes, part of the Cowes Offshore Series

Sat, 25 Jul 2026·09:00 start

Dates

25 Jul 2026

Duration

1.3 days

Location

Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble

About

Round-trip RORC Channel race from Cowes — part of the 2026 Cowes Offshore Series.

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Round-trip Channel race — part of the 2026 RORC Cowes Offshore Series.

The Channel Race is a round-trip RORC offshore from Cowes — out into the Channel and back to a Solent finish, with no foreign port. Per the RORC 2026 NoR programme, it's part of the 2026 Cowes Offshore Series.

Same-weekend race: brief and start, overnight at sea with watches, return to the Solent finish. A solid step up for crew with prior offshore experience, and a useful Fastnet qualifier.

Ready to race?

£550 · Sat 25 Jul

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Race programme

Friday brief · Saturday race start · overnight in Channel · Sunday finish in Solent.

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  1. Friday — pre-race brief & dock-out

    16:00 onwards

    Crew arrive Mercury Yacht Harbour. Skipper brief, kit check, safety brief. Light dinner before dock-out.

  2. Saturday — race start

    see RORC SI

    Race start off Cowes. Course out into the Channel.

  3. Saturday night — at sea

    Overnight Channel passage with two-watch rotation.

  4. Sunday — finish in Solent

    Return to Solent finish. Recovery, sail back to Mercury Yacht Harbour.

Joining details

Friday from 16:00 — exact race start time confirmed in the SI.

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Meeting point

Mercury Yacht Harbour, Satchell Lane, Hamble-le-Rice, SO31 4HQ. We meet on the pontoon by your assigned berth — your skipper will share the berth number and a location pin in the crew WhatsApp group the week before.

Meeting point

- Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble (postcode shown above). Pontoon and berth shared in the crew WhatsApp the week before.

Arrival

- Arrive by the start time shown on this event page. - Subject to availability you can arrive the night before — arrange with the skipper in the WhatsApp.

Parking

- Free at Mercury, except Round the Island Race weekend.

Crew WhatsApp

- Set up by the Wednesday before. Confirms timings, weather, destination berth.

Before you arrive

- Emergency contact, medical info and waiver in your dashboard profile. - International races: upload passport details.

Ready to race?

£550 · Sat 25 Jul

Book your place Have a question?

What to bring

Full offshore kit, sleeping bag — we provide lifejackets and Cat-2 safety equipment.

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Essential

- Waterproof sailing jacket + salopettes - Sailing boots (deck shoes only OK for inshore day races) - Warm base layers (no cotton) + mid-layer fleece - Hat and sailing gloves - Sun hat, sunglasses with retainer, sun cream - Head torch with red-light mode (any night sailing or offshore) - Personal medication - Sea-sickness remedy (taken 30 mins before the start) - Water bottle and snacks for the day - Soft holdall or dry bag — no hard suitcases

Overnight

- 3-4 season sleeping bag (no bedding provided) - Toiletries, change of clothes, quick-dry towel

Offshore / double-handed

- Notebook for debrief - Passport for cross channel races

Provided

- Yacht, professional skipper/coach - Life jackets and safety kit - Charts, AIS, VHF (+ satcom offshore) - Galley kit, water, tea, coffee - Mooring fees and insurance

Not provided

- Food and snacks aboard — bring your own, or shared crew food order on overnight / offshore (cost shared, leftovers taken home).

Leave behind

- Hard suitcases, hair dryers, excess alcohol.

Who can join

  • Intermediate — prior race yacht training
  • Minimum age: 18

Organised by

Royal Ocean Racing Club

Royal Ocean Racing Club

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is recognised as the premier organiser of racing for offshore yachts around the world and is a leading authority on safety at sea. Established in 1925, the Club's Fastnet Race has become the world's largest offshore race by number of entries. Supported by Rolex since 2001, the Rolex Fastnet Race attracts over 400 boats from around the world. The RORC organises races in British and European locations, as well as Antigua, Grenada, Lanzarote, and Helsinki. The Club has approximately 4000 members across the globe

Visit Royal Ocean Racing Club

FAQs

Where it finishes, passport, watch system, Fastnet qualifying, kit.

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What's on the boat vs what I bring?

On board: yacht, skipper/coach, lifejackets and safety kit, galley kit, water/tea/coffee. You bring: personal kit, layers, sleeping bag (if overnight) plus food and snacks.

What if the weather is bad?

We still run something — theory, manoeuvres in the lee of land, sheltered routes. Seriously weather-affected weekends rerun at a discount where reasonable.

I'm sea-sick prone — can I still come?

Yes. Take your remedy 30 mins before the start, not after. Tell your skipper in the safety brief.

I don't have a partner — can I still book?

Yes. We pair crew via the WhatsApp before each event. You won't be the odd one out.

Can I arrive the night before?

Usually possible, subject to availability. Arrange with the skipper in the crew WhatsApp.

How do I cancel or change my booking?

Contact us early — refunds and changes are handled case-by-case under our T&Cs. Earlier is always better.

Ready to race?

£550 · Sat 25 Jul

Book your place Have a question?

Official links

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