SOLENT EVENTS DIARY Y X ONE DESIGN CLASS April – October The XOD class is unique in having six active fleets around the Solent, located at Cowes, Hamble, Itchenor, Lymington, Parkstone and Yarmouth. Each Division manages its own, very active, mid-week and weekend racing schedules with 60 races or more per season. SOLENT EVENTS DIARThe annual championships are held during Cowes Week with between 50 - 80 boats participating. XODs attract many experienced helms and crew and the standard of racing at the front of the fleets is very high. XODs are traditionally the largest entry in Cowes Week sailing from home ports to participate each year. DARING CLASS April – October The Daring was designed as a One Design by Arthur Robb, based on his successful 5.5 meter yacht Vision, the silver medal winner in the 1956 Olympics. The classic design has proved popular and enduring, offering great value for money for this type of One Design racing because the boats are sailed as syndicates of 3 or 4 owners, making sailing affordable for friends and families. Darings race in the Solent off Cowes every weekend from 1 May to early October and has some of the best social events throughout the season. There are Darings for sale and charter, please go to the Daring website for more information. Daring Class RORC EASTER CHALLENGE 7 – 9 April The RORC Easter Challenge is the Club’s official training regatta where race coaches and the team from North U Regatta services are among those imparting their knowledge both on the water and post-race at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse for free to all competitors. Crews can even request coaching on specific aspects eg: sail trim, starting, manoeuvres, etc. Uniquely for the event, RRS41 is relaxed, enabling coaches to come on board or crew to step off on to a coach RIB during racing. Combined with the popular debriefs after each days racing, and the unique prizes of Easter eggs, the RORC Easter challenge is the perfect way to kick start the domestic season. rorc.org 40 solenthandbook.com
Solent Handbook & Directory April 2023- March 2024 Page 39 Page 41