The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s training regatta came to a conclusion on Easter Sunday with two races held in brilliant sunshine in the Solent. A stiff westerly breeze of about 15 knots decreased and veered to the north during the day. PRO Stuart Childerley and the RORC Race Team ran a windward leeward course followed by a round the cans race to deliver a total of 7 races in three days for the RORC Fleet.
Congratulations to the 2026 RORC Easter Challenge IRC Class Winners: Simon Patterson’s Fast40+ Standfast, David Franks’ J/112 Leon and John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox.
IRC One
Simon Patterson’s FAST40+ Standfast was the dominant performer, completing the regatta with a perfect scoreline of seven bullets. Malcolm Offord’s TP52 Braveheart finished second overall, racing well after two DNCs to post a run of three runners up positions in races. The Family De Graaf’s Ker 43 Baraka GP completed the podium, just two points behind Braveheart.
IRC Two
David Franks’ J/112 Leon was the dominant performer in IRC 2, winning six races. The Army Sailing Association’s Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier was a clear second with a highly consistent scoreline, making the podium in every race. RORC Vice Commodore Derek Shakespeare with J/122 Bulldog completed the top three, ending the series strongly with scores of 4, 3 and 1 in the final three races. Bulldog finished just one point ahead of Max Walker’s Sun Fast 3600 Elysium IV.
“The Easter Challenge has been a very good regatta for us,” commented David Franks. “We like strong winds; it suits Leon and the team… In the end, it often comes down to the team that makes the fewest mistakes.” The event also provided valuable coaching with expert feedback.
IRC Three
John Smart’s J/109 Jukebox was the dominant performer, winning the first four races and then adding a third and a second in the final two. Oliver & Sam Love’s J/109 Frank 4 finished second overall, giving Jukebox a match race in nearly every encounter. Harry Heijst’s S&S 41 Winsome completed the top three.
“We came to the RORC Easter Challenge because this season the P30 circuit is a big focus for us,” commented John Smart. The event was a very good early marker for the year, with a focus on enhancing teamwork and control.
The RORC Easter Challenge Prize Giving was held at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse, where Vice Commodore Derek Shakespeare presented class winners with their prizes.
Many competitors noted the value of the training regatta experience. Lou Clayton highlighted that it significantly boosted her team’s confidence ahead of upcoming competitions. Feedback from various teams showcased the benefits of the event in terms of preparation for future races.
With expert coaching throughout the regatta, the event aimed to enhance the skills of all participants. The camaraderie and collaborative spirit fostered during the weekend was noted as being particularly beneficial.
Report: Louay Habib / RORC
Photos: Paul Wyeth (www.pwpictures.com)
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