Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

RORC North Sea Race Preview

by Louay Habib / RORC 8 May 2024 08:56 PDT 10-11 May 2024
Ker 46 ROST Van Uden © Paul Wyeth / RORC

First Start: 10:30 Friday 10 May, 2024
Harwich - Scheveningen (180nm)

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's North Sea Race, hosted by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, has attracted over 50 boats. The North Sea Race is one of the oldest in the RORC Racing Calendar dating back to 1931.

The race is run in association with the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association, the Yacht Club Scheveningen and the North Sea Regatta. The North Sea Race is the sixth race of the 2024 RORC Season's Points Championship, the world's largest offshore racing series.

2024 North Sea Race Entries

The 180nm race across the North Sea starts from Harwich on the East Coast of England and finishes close to the famous Dutch sailing city of the Hague and the Yacht Club Scheveningen. The majority of the entries come from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with over 300 sailors taking part that include crew from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Norway and Poland.

Last year's overall winner J/122 Ajeto! is back, racing double-handed by Robin Verhoef & John van der Starre. 2023 RORC Season's Points Champion, Sun Fast 3600 Bellino will be in Harwich. Bellino was in fine form winning the Myth of Malham Race last weekend. Rob Craigie and RORC Commodore Deb Fish are looking to extend their winning streak with the North Sea Race. Both Bellino and Ajeto! will be racing in IRC Two and IRC Two-Handed.

In IRC Super Zero, the Dutch VO65 NextGen will be favourite for line honours. In IRC Zero, the two fastest boats on IRC rating are Ker 46 ROST - Van Uden, skippered by Gerd-jan Poortman and Whitbread 60 Boudragon, skippered by Hans Bouscholte. Mark Emerson's A13 Phosphorus II is the scratch boat from the United Kingdom.

In IRC One, two Dutch J/122 go head to head, Frans van Cappelle and Michelle Witsenburg's Moana, which competed in the RORC Transatlantic Race and RORC Caribbean 600, will have a close match with Uneco de Meester's Otra Vez. Both teams are from the Yacht Club Scheveningen.

In IRC Three, Michel Dorsman's X-362 Extra Djinn will defend the class win from last year. Radboud Crul has competed in over 30 editions of the race and is a proven winner. Crul's Dehler 36 Rosetta is one of the favourites for the class, and if the conditions suit, also overall under IRC.

In IRC Four, Will & Jenny Taylor-Jones S&S 40 Sunstone is defending their class win from last year. Sunstone was launched in 1965 and enjoyed many successes over the decades. Close competition will come from another classic from the design board of Sparkman & Stephens. Swan 38 Xara was launched in 1974 and won IRC Four in the 2023 Cowes Dinard St Malo Race and was the overall winner under IRC of the 2021 De Guingand Bowl Race. Paul Scott's Sigma 38 Spirit, which won the race overall in 2018, will also be in contention.

At the lively prize-giving hosted by the Yacht Club Scheveningen on Sunday May 12, competitors will be awarded a number of prestigious trophies including the Goeree Challenge Cup for the overall win under IRC.

For more information about the Royal Ocean Racing Club: www.rorc.org

Related Articles

The perfect launchpad for RORC Transatlantic Race
Since 2014, Marina Lanzarote has consistently welcomed the fleet as the chosen departure point The RORC Transatlantic Race in association with the International Maxi Association and Yacht Club de France, will start from Marina Lanzarote on 11th January 2026. Posted on 31 Aug
Cowes Week 2025 Delivers Spectacular Racing
199th event completed in fine style The 199th Cowes Week annual regatta was completed in fine style with over 400 boats finishing the last race off the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line under multi coloured spinnakers. Posted on 19 Aug
Contessa 32 class at Cowes Week 2025
49th year of class racing at Cowes sees fleet secure several trophies The 199th year of Cowes Week is fast slipping astern as the Contessa fleet spreads its summer wings for cruising in and beyond the Solent before returning in September for more closely contested one design class racing. Posted on 18 Aug
A+T Wind Sensors lead Admiral's Cup results
The top four teams were using A+T wind sensors and parts The top four teams in the Admiral's Cup were using A+T wind sensors and parts. Together with victory in this year's Vendée Globe on Macif, this is proving A+T's reputation as the toughest and the best wind sensor available. Posted on 11 Aug
Double Down
Rahan, Léon, and Toucan - all great efforts, all winners, and all oceans apart Still blown away by the incredible efforts of Rahan in the Transpac, and now there is Léon in the Fastnet, and here in Australia, Toucan scores int he Sydney to Gold Coast race Posted on 10 Aug
Cowes Week 2025 overall
Fabulous, flying finish With the spectacle of many of the fleets finishing in the sunshine, downwind under spinnaker, this year's Cowes Week concluded in style. Posted on 8 Aug
Cowes Week 2025 day 6
Breeze and competition ramps up The penultimate day of Cowes Week 2025 delivered great winds with some fruity gusts and choppy seas to challenge competitors as the competition for the top prizes heats up. Posted on 7 Aug
Youth Day at Cowes Week gallery from Ingrid Abery
Photos from Wednesday's racing in the Solent We have a great gallery of gratuitous transom shots from Ingrid Abery, who was working tirelessly on the Solent on Wednesday to record the action. Posted on 7 Aug
Amarris crowned IRC Two-Handed European Champion
Combined results from RORC Cowes Dinard St Malo and the Rolex Fastnet Race After a season of adversity and determination, French sailor Achille Nebout has claimed the 2025 IRC Two-Handed European Championship, rounding off an extraordinary campaign racing with two teammates; Gildas Mahé and Tanguy Bouroullec. Posted on 7 Aug
Cowes Week 2025 day 5
Flying Jenny wins the Britannia Cup The biggest boats in Class Zero today were joined today by Tony Langley's Gladiator, which will be racing for the rest of the week. The battle for the Britannia Cup was between these giants, IRC1 and the Cape 31s. Posted on 6 Aug
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERSea Sure 2025