2025 RORC Easter Challenge - Day 2
by Louay Habib / RORC 20 Apr 19:15 AEST
18-20 April 2025
The Royal Ocean Racing Club training regatta, the RORC Easter Challenge supported by North Sails, continued on Easter Saturday in the Solent with two races for all four IRC Classes.
PRO Stuart Childerley and the RORC Race Team delayed the start of racing, allowing the strong wind to subside and sunshine to fill across the racetrack. The breeze will still up in the high teens for spectacular racing on a windward leeward course in the Central Solent.
Congratulations to today's race winners: Max Klink's Botin 52 Caro, Peter Harrison's IRC TP52 Jolt 3, Per Roman's JPK 1180 Garm, Dave Cullen's First 50 Checkmate XX, David Franks J/112 Leon, and Rob O'Leary's Half Tonner 2 Farr.
2025 Easter Challenge Results
After racing, another RORC Easter Challenge Video Debrief was held at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse with hundreds of sailors listening avidly to the top coaching team. Today's debrief emphasised downwind tactics, including hoists, drops, and mark roundings, noting improvements needed for less experienced boats. The discussions continued in the Fastnet Bar, well into the evening.
"The coaching team focused on downwind performance today," commented Mason King. "Teams need to develop a clear playbook for boat handling, particularly for hoists and drops and address common issues like sail twists and jibe execution. Tactical communication and crew choreography are especially important, particularly for boats using symmetrical spinnakers."
King also highlighted examples of noticeable improvement on Day Two: "The close racing between Cougar and Panther, both Reflex 38s from the London Sailing School, was a great example of progress. Their spinnaker hoists and drops were much cleaner today. It was also encouraging to see more teams adjusting their gear setups to suit the conditions, definitely a step forward from Day One."
IRC Three
David Frank's J/112 Leon revelled on the technical windward course today winning both race. Leon's main agitant today was the Army Sailing Association's Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier. Skippered by Lt Col Will Naylor, the army team was second in both races. Yesterday's double-race winner, Max Walker's Sun Fast 3600 Elysium IV, was third in both of today's races to retain the class lead for the regatta. Fujitsu British Soldier is second and J/99 Further West is third.
"It was a fantastic day on the water," said David Franks, skipper of the J/112 Leon, after Day Two of the RORC Easter Challenge. "The two windward-leeward races definitely played to our strengths and we sailed well today. After a tough start yesterday, with equipment issues and even a bit of damage that forced us to retire, it was great to come back strong."
Reflecting on the purpose of the event, Franks added: "The Easter Challenge is such a valuable regatta. After a long winter of not sailing, it really gets you dusted down and tuned back in. It's a great way to shake off the cobwebs and get serious again. The coaching is top-notch, and being able to debrief with experts right after racing is incredibly useful, especially ahead of a packed season."
IRC Four
Rob O'Leary's Half Tonner 2 Farr scored two more bullets today to maintain their perfect scoreline for the RORC Easter Challenge. The Half Tonner 2 Farr is the only boat left with a perfect scoreline, but it was far from easy. Olly & Sam Love's J/109 Frank 4 was runner up in both races by 70 and 34 seconds respectively. Rob Cotterrill's J/109 Mojo Risin' was third in both races to make the class podium with one day of racing remaining.
Olly & Sam's Love have been competing at the RORC Easter Regatta on many occasions but this is the first for their new boat, J/109 Frank 4. "It's the first major event of the season, the training and the support are invaluable," explained Olly & Sam. "Having top coaches filming you while you're racing is great because you get a different perspective from off the boat. The training regatta environment is perfect for trying out new tweaks to see what is the fastest."
IRC One
Peter Harrison's TP52 Jolt 3 scored a 2-1 today to lead the big boat class by three points. Max Clink's Botin 52 Caro is still challenging for the class lead having won Race 3 by just 19 seconds after IRC time correction and placing third in Race 4. After scoring a 3-2 today, Carkeek 40+ Jolt 6 moves up to third for the regatta.
IRC Two
Per Roman's JPK 1180 Garm won Race 3 but their perfect regatta score-line was broken in Race 4 by Dave Cullen's First 50 Checkmate XX, taking the race win. Double-Olympic Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson is at the helm of Checkmate XX for the regatta with her 18 year old son Killian who was calling tactics today. Hugo Gommers' Landmark 43 Olympix finished third in both races to move up to third for the series.
Racing at the RORC Easter Challenge concludes on Easter Sunday 20 April. View more stunning images from the regatta at www.rorc.org