Contact Us

Red Funnel Easter Challenge

Back

   

Friday 9th to Sunday 11th April 2004

This event is the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s annual "curtain raiser" held during the first three days of the Easter weekend and is primarily designed as a training regatta for the coming offshore season - but don’t be fooled, those competing still take it very seriously!

The regatta consists of some seven short (approximately 1 hour long) races all viewed under the watchful eye of national racing coaches, who dispenses on the water advice and make video recordings of "the good, the bad and the ugly" (you can’t hide!). The subsequent "expert" comments are then aired during post-race debrief sessions, in the RORC/Red Funnel tent at Cowes Yacht Haven immediately after racing.

The variety of Solent short courses are designed to make the yachts perform every possible manoeuvre. Starts are aggressive, general recalls being common and the "round the ends" or "black flag" rule frequently imposed. The legs often get progressively shorter making for a lot crew activity and plenty of spinnaker handling - by the end of the weekend you’ll be glibly talking about gybe-sets and float-drops with the rest of them!!!

The Programme:

Thursday evening 8th Meet the team
Friday a.m. 9th Training session
Friday p.m. Races 1& 2 - 1400 GMT start followed by video debrief
Friday evening Informal welcome awaits you at the RORC tent and bar.
Go Sail supper
Saturday a.m. 10th Races 3 & 4 - 1000 hours start
Saturday p.m. Race 5 followed by video debrief
Saturday evening Drinks and Dinner - which we hope to arrange at local yacht club - a real pleasure to visit and relax in this famous club - even if it means dusting off your blazer or the ladies being slightly more glamorous than in their sailing oilies.
Sunday a.m. 11th Race 6 - 1000 hours start
Sunday p.m. Race 7 - Sunday prize giving (Easter eggs!) at the RORC tent and supper (optional) in town.

This great weekend, of three full days of fun and racing, inclusive of race fees and temporary membership of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club costs only £245.