The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s new Cowes Offshore Racing Series, launched in 2025, may appear to be just another club series at first glance. But it’s far more than that. Designed as a deliberate evolution of the offshore racing landscape, the series brings together seven well-established offshore races, all starting from Cowes—the historical heart of British yacht racing—and repackages them into a cohesive, competitive series aimed at making offshore racing more accessible and structured for a broad range of sailors.
Importantly, the series functions as a feeder pathway. While it doesn’t include marquee events like the Rolex Fastnet Race or the Rolex Middle Sea Race in its scoring, it’s clearly intended to prepare teams for those very events. These longer, higher-profile races demand experienced crews and well-prepared boats. The Cowes Offshore Racing Series gives teams a chance to build towards that, one step at a time.
The series comprises the following races:
Cervantes Trophy Race – 3 May
De Guingand Bowl Race – 17 May
Myth of Malham Race – 24 May
Morgan Cup Race – 27 June
Cowes–Dinard–St Malo Race – 11 July
Channel Race – 19 July
Cherbourg Race – 5 September
Boats earn points from their best five results, giving teams flexibility and keeping the focus on quality racing over quantity. This format is particularly well-suited to amateur campaigns, double-handed crews, and owners of classic offshore boats.
While the Rolex Fastnet Race also starts in Cowes, it’s not included in the series scoring. This is a practical decision—it avoids skewing the results around one high-profile race and keeps the series more achievable in terms of time, cost, and commitment.
Spotlight on the Myth of Malham Race
Among the early races, the Myth of Malham Race consistently attracts large fleets—especially in Fastnet years—due to its course. It mirrors the first 100 miles of the Fastnet: starting off Cowes, heading west down the Solent, then around Eddystone Lighthouse off Plymouth, before returning along the same route. Crews get a valuable tactical rehearsal, navigating tidal gates and headlands along the south coast.
The race is named after the innovative yacht Myth of Malham, designed by Laurent Giles and campaigned by Commodore John Illingworth. She won back-to-back Fastnets in 1947 and 1949 and played a part in Britain’s winning Admiral’s Cup team in 1959.
In this year’s edition, held on 24 May, the top IRC overall performers were:
Long Courrier – Sydney GTS 43, owned by Gery Trentesaux (FRA)
Foggy Dew – JPK 10.30, owned by Noel Racine (FRA)
Orbit – Jeanneau Sunfast 3300, owned by Dan Fellows (GBR)
Orbit is particularly noteworthy, having also won the Cervantes Trophy Race earlier in the series.
Who’s – or rather what is – sailing well?
Three races in, and clear trends are emerging. Jeanneau’s Sunfast range (especially the 3300 and 3600 models) is proving dominant. JPK yachts and older J-Boats remain competitive, while classic offshore boats—Nicholsons, Contessas, and Swans—continue to show they can compete under IRC when well-sailed.
There’s a noticeable rise in double-handed entries, with good results being posted by both dual- and fully-crewed teams. French entries like Long Courrier and Foggy Dew are proving that the series has strong appeal across the Channel, and their success shows a consistent European edge in offshore racing execution.
While the Fastnet and Middle Sea races aren’t part of the series, they’re firmly in the sights of many participants. The Cowes series offers a practical progression: build experience, test crew dynamics, refine onboard systems, and establish performance baselines in shorter offshore races.
Boats like Orbit and Long Courrier are demonstrating how this works in practice. Their early form in the Cowes series positions them as serious contenders in major offshore events later this year.
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The takeaway
The Cowes Offshore Racing Series isn’t just a new fixture on the calendar—it’s a well-considered development in offshore racing. By consolidating existing races into a structured series with clear progression, it offers a manageable, competitive stepping stone into offshore racing’s higher tiers.
It appeals to a wide demographic: from seasoned campaigners preparing for Fastnet, to newer teams looking for a clear path into competitive offshore sailing. It supports growth, raises standards, and builds community—all while staying accessible.
For those in New Zealand watching from afar, this series may well serve as a model worth adapting locally. It shows how to build depth in a racing scene while also keeping the door open for those aiming for international events.
