Several sailors with boats that are often seen racing off Cowes are amongst those honoured at this year’s prizegiving of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. (RORC).
RORC members and guests from across Europe and beyond gathered in London for the celebration. Although a number of RORCs Racing Programme races take place in the Solent, it is truly international, with this year’s racing venues including: Malta, Canary Islands, Caribbean, France, Netherlands, Ireland and Finland.
Master of Ceremonies was RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton, who welcomed RORC Commodore Deb Fish to the stage for an opening speech that congratulated all of the prize winners for the 2024 RORC Season.
Deb had special praise for RORC Admiral Mike Greville, who will be leaving the role after a quarter of a century as RORC Flag Officer, Commodore and Admiral. Mike is one of only a handful of sailors that had competed in over 20 Rolex Fastnet Races and has always done so with a Corinthian crew of family and friends. In recognition of his length of commitment to the Club, he has been given Honorary Life Membership.
RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole, assisted by Deb and Mike Greville, welcomed teams onto the stage to receive their prizes. The biggest cheer of the night was for Ross Applebey’s Scarlet Oyster, often seen at Cowes, named 2024 RORC Yacht of the Year.
Ross with Scarlet Oyster (GBR) has achieved a defining moment, winning the prestigious Somerset Memorial Trophy. After more than 2 decades of competing in the RORC Season’s Points Championship, this is the first time the Oyster 48 has claimed the top honour. Alongside this accolade, Scarlet Oyster won IRC Two and finished 2nd overall in the Championship, plus the Gordon Applebey Trophy and the Assuage Trophy. Ross has sailed the boat, previously owned by his father, since he was a child, logging around 200,000 miles.
Rob Craigie’s Sun Fast 3600 Bellino, racing Two-Handed with RORC Commodore Deb Fish, won the 2024 RORC Season’s Championship Overall for the second season in a row, retaining the Jazz Trophy.
Nick Martin’s Sun Fast 3600 Diablo, racing Two-Handed with Cal Ferguson, was third overall for the RORC Season’s Points Championship. Diablo was awarded the Alan Paul Trophy for consistent high performance.
Much of the conversation on the night revolved around next year’s historic season as the Royal Ocean Racing Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. There will be a series of special events both on and off the water including the conclusion of the West-East Transatlantic Race, the prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race, and the much-anticipated return of the Admiral’s Cup which will be based in Cowes.
2025 sees the Admiral’s Cup return to the spotlight. Teams from across the globe are rallying their finest talent, knowing that meticulous planning and strategic preparation are the keys to gaining the competitive edge in this legendary event.
Teams are already gearing up, with many planning to start training and racing in the Solent as early as April 2025. This early preparation sets the stage for a gathering of phenomenal boats and world-class competition in UK waters, including racing in the Solent and the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race at Cowes on Saturday 26th July.
