Lanzarote - The Atlantic Hub for Sport and Sustainable Tourism “The RORC Transatlantic Race 2026 is not just a sporting competition, but a symbol of the island’s identity and of the international projection we seek for our destination.” — Oswaldo Betancort, President of the Cabildo of Lanzarote London, UK - November 3, 2025. The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through SPEL – Turismo Lanzarote, hosted an event at the London headquarters of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), together with Calero Marinas, to promote the upcoming edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race and to showcase the island to RORC members and leading international media in sailing and sports tourism. The event, organised on the eve of the World Travel Market tourism fair, strengthened Lanzarote’s position as a leading nautical destination in the Atlantic. During his address, the President of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, emphasised that “Lanzarote is an island that looks to the Atlantic, that has charted its own course — committed to excellence, and to a form of tourism that respects and enriches our land.” He added that the RORC Transatlantic Race “embodies the vision of an island that combines sport, sustainability, and international ambition — reinforcing Lanzarote’s role as a meeting point between Europe and the Americas.” Betancort expressed his gratitude to the Royal Ocean Racing Club and Calero Marinas, highlighting their partnership as an example of how collaboration between institutions and companies can drive a more sustainable and high-quality tourism model. “During those days, Lanzarote becomes a grand welcoming port — where sailing meets culture, gastronomy, and the warmth of our people,” he remarked. José Juan Calero, CEO of Calero Marinas, noted that “our joint work with the Royal Ocean Racing Club, supported by the Cabildo and SPEL – Turismo Lanzarote, has been key to consolidating the island as an international benchmark in sailing. The RORC Transatlantic Race demonstrates Lanzarote’s capacity to host top-level events and strengthens its image as a strategic hub in the Atlantic.” Héctor Fernández, CEO of SPEL – Turismo Lanzarote, added that “this meeting, held ahead of the World Travel Market, reinforces our strategy of enhancing the destination’s quality offering — focusing on high-value segments such as nautical tourism, which reflect the values of excellence, sustainability, and authenticity that define the Lanzarote brand.” Finally, Jeremy Wilton, CEO of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, remarked: “Lanzarote has been home to the RORC Transatlantic Race since its very first edition and remains the perfect place to start this 3,000-mile ocean crossing. The facilities at Calero Marinas are first-class — capable of hosting everything from 30-foot racers to 40-metre superyachts — and the professionalism of the Calero family and their team is exceptional.” He concluded: “Our bond with Lanzarote and the Canary Islands is extraordinarily strong, and with the continued support of SPEL – Turismo Lanzarote, this collaboration continues to grow — ensuring every competitor begins their Atlantic adventure in the best possible setting.”

France Triumphs at 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships After days of high-stakes offshore racing, dramatic twists, and an unforgettable finale, the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships reached its conclusion in Cowes. Across the championship, 21 teams representing 14 nations lined up to compete, with 11 crews from four continents qualifying for the 114nm Final. In light and tactical conditions, France’s Théa Khelif and Thomas André (FRA 1) mastered the shifting breeze to be crowned World Champions. Taking the runner-up spot after a thrilling finish were Great Britain’s Willow Bland & Zeb Fellows (GBR 2), Zeb was the youngest sailor at the worlds, just 18 years of age. Domi Knuppel & Federico Waksman (URU) proudly securing third place — Uruguay’s first podium at this level. The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), in collaboration with Cap-Regatta and supported by LGL and Jeanneau, hosted this World Sailing-recognised championship in supplied Sun Fast 30 One Design yachts. The fleet representing nations across five continents showcased the diversity and rising talent of the discipline, with mixed-gender crews ranging from Olympians and offshore veterans to youth sailors making their first impact on the world stage. Final Results – 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships 🥇 FRA 1 – Théa Khelif & Thomas André (France) 🥈 GBR 2 – Zeb Fellows & Willow Bland (Great Britain) 🥉 URU – Dominique Knuppel & Federico Waksman (Uruguay) 🎥 Filmed By Corinna Haines & Paul Wyeth

Kiwis Clinch the Golden Ticket in a Dramatic Repechage 28 September – After two qualifying races, ten teams from nine nations had already booked their places in the final of the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships. One final berth remained; the winner of the nerve-shredding Repechage Race. After 89 miles of nonstop drama, and a protest hearing that briefly cast doubt over the outcome, New Zealand’s Aaron Hume-Merry and Anna Merchant (NZL 1) emerged victorious, clinching the last golden ticket to Monday’s final. #ODHWC2025 #rorcracing #doublehanded

Worlds Apart, Side by Side: Qualification Race 2 – 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships Cowes, UK (26 September 2025) – Qualification Race 2 of the Offshore Double Handed World Championships delivered everything: a crisp 10-knot Solent start, a brutal 20–25 knot beat past St. Catherine’s Point, and a nail-biting finish outside the RORC Cowes Clubhouse. French duo Théa Khelif & Thomas Andre (FRA 1) took the winner’s gun with a flawless performance. Liz Wardley & Lincoln Dews (AUS 2) edged Karl Otto & Maren Magda Book (NOR) by just two minutes to claim second. Alec Coleman & Savannah Taylor (CAN) grabbed fourth, while Zeb Fellows & Willow Bland (GBR 2) secured the final qualifying spot by only 61 seconds. 🌍 With sailors from across the globe – Olympians, offshore veterans, and rising stars – Qualifier 2 showed the incredible depth and diversity of talent in this world championship fleet. 📺 In this video: • Race highlights from the start and offshore action • Interviews with FRA 1, AUS 2, and GBR 2 • Onboard stories of resilience, strategy, and tight battles #ODHWC2025 #RORCRacing #DoubleHanded

2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships Qualification Race 2: Start Highlights 25 September 2025 - The second qualification race of the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships got underway in Cowes, Isle of Wight in a northeasterly 10 knot gradient wind, with clear skies. The 140nm race is expected to come to a climax on Friday 26 September. After the start, the international fleet raced on a short sharp beat to the East Bramble mark. First to round was Théa Khelif/Thomas Andre (FRA), followed by Megan Thomson/Oakley Marsh (NZL 2) then Onur Tok/Hamide Sevda Ersezer (TUR). The front runners double-headed to the spreader mark, Paul Heys before hoisting spinnakers. Heading into the Western Solent, FRA 1 showed good speed on the VMG run, extending their lead. Both NZL 2 and TUR chose to follow the mainland shore with the Kiwis notably sailing goose-winged to hold their lane. Alec Coleman/Savannah Taylor (USA), Liz Wardley/Lincoln Dews (AUS 2) and Alec Coleman/Savannah Taylor (CAN) chose the island shore in the Western Solent and looked to make gains. First to round the Needles Fairway Buoy was FRA 1,closely followed by NZL 2 and AUS 2. Only the top five finishers from this qualifier will earn a direct place in the World Championship Final, making every move critical. The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), in collaboration with Cap-Regatta and supported by LGL and Jeanneau, is proud to host the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships from 22nd September to 1st October from Cowes, Isle of Wight. #ODHWC2025 #RORCRacing #DoubleHanded

2025 Offshore Double Handed Worlds: Qualifier 1 Cowes, UK (24 September 2025) – Provisional results are in from the first 140nm qualifier of the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships, and the racing delivered plenty of drama. Reigning world champions Cal Finlayson & Maggie Adamson (GBR 1) got their campaign off to the perfect start, winning in just under 19 hours. Less than four minutes later, Dominique Knuppel & Federico Waksman (URU) crossed the line in second but must wait for a jury decision later today to confirm their place. Lina Rixgens & Sverre Reinke (GER 1) battled back from hooking a fishing net south of the Isle of Wight to snatch third by only 47 seconds. Anna Drougge & Martin Angsell (SWE 1) finished a solid fourth to make the final. The young Dutch crew of Christiane Walta & Ivar Elstrodt (NED) securing the all-important fifth place and a spot in the championship final.

Race Highlights & Interviews The opening qualifier of the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships got underway in Cowes, Isle of Wight with near-perfect conditions: a northeasterly 10–14 knots, clear skies and flat water. The start was fiercely competitive. Nanami Iguchi/Yoshihiko Murase (JPN 1) were OCS but restarted cleanly. First around the HYS mark was Lina Rixgens & Sverre Reinke (GER 1), chased hard by Aaron Hume-Merry & Anna Merchant (NZL 1 ) and Anna Drougge & Martin Angsell (SWE 1). Arianna Liconti & Francesco Farci (ITA 1 ) split west early but lost out on the move. On the spreader leg to Paul Heys, the pack reshuffled with NZL 1 passing GER 1, leaving SWE 1 in third. Only the top five finishers from this qualifier will earn a direct place in the World Championship Final, making every move critical. The 140nm race is expected to come to a climax on Wednesday 24 September. Live Race Tracking – Follow Every Move All boats are fitted with YB Trackers so fans can follow the fleet in real time across the Solent and English Channel. Watch for free at https://yb.tl/odhwc2025 or via the YB Races App, available on app stores. The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), in collaboration with Cap-Regatta and supported by LGL and Jeanneau, is proud to host the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships from 22nd September to 1st October from Cowes, Isle of Wight.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s inaugural Cowes Offshore Racing Series has signed off in style after seven thrilling, hard-fought races, marking the start of a bold new chapter for Solent-based offshore competition. Created to bring fun, competitive and impeccably run offshore racing closer to home, the series delivered everything it promised — and more: tactical duels, testing overnight passages including a cocktail of short sprints and coastal classics, all with the RORC’s hallmark professionalism and the vibrant welcome of the RORC Cowes clubhouse. Launched in the Club’s Centenary year, the series gave over 500 sailors, both Corinthian and professionals, the chance to go bow-to-bow in a compact but demanding programme. With the best five races counting from seven, the fleet faced everything the Channel could throw at them — from glassy Solent drifters where inches mattered, to bruising legs around notorious headlands and into the open sea. Series Champions Crowned IRC Zero – Graeme Lewis’ CM60 Venomous emerged at the top of the big-boat fleet, outscoring the Admiral’s Cup youth team, Ker 46 ROST Van Uden skippered by Gerd-Jan Poortman. Ross Hobson’s Open 50 Pegasus was third. IRC One – Offshore legend Géry Trentesaux once again proved his class, steering Ker 43 Long Courrier to victory. Michael O’Donnell’s J/121 Darkwood took class victory in the final race to take second and Dawn Treader completed the series podium. IRC Two – Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster continued its remarkable winning pedigree, securing the series crown ahead of Robin Herbert’s J/133 Corazon. Richard Catchpole’s First 40 Minnie the Minx was third for the series. IRC Three – The Two-Handed specialists shone, with Rob Craigie’s Sun Fast 3600 Bellino raced with RORC Commodore Deb Fish taking the series, just edging out Sam White & Sam North racing JPK 1080 Mzungu in a double-handed duel that went down to the wire. Simon Bamford’s Sun Fast 3300 Kestrel was always in the running and secured third. IRC Four – Mark Brown’s JPK 1010 Jetpack proved unstoppable, with Mitchell Fowler’s JPK 1010 Jaasap runner up. Tim Goodhew and Kelvin Matthews’ racing Sun Fast 3200 Cora completed the podium. Multihull Class – Peter Coote’s Dazcat 1295 Slinky Malinki took honours ahead of sistership Minor Swing sailed by Didier Bouillard. A New Series in the Offshore Calendar The Cowes Offshore Racing Series has quickly established itself as a must-sail circuit for both Corinthian and professional crews. Its format — racing from the Solent into the Channel and back — combines accessibility with offshore challenge, while delivering exciting racing for crews and warm and lively welcome at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse, before and after racing. As the Royal Ocean Racing Club looks ahead, the Cowes Offshore Racing Series is set to become a cornerstone of the racing calendar. 2025 Class winners will take to the stage to collect their Assuage Trophies at the RORC Centenary Annual Dinner & Prize Giving on November 15th at the Sheraton Grand London. For more information about the Royal Ocean Racing Club: www.rorc.org

A Centenary Edition to Remember. The 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race delivered everything — power, heartbreak, glory and grit. Over 400 boats took on the legendary 695-mile course from Cowes to Cherbourg via the Rock, in conditions that tested even the most seasoned sailors. From line honours to corrected time, every leg mattered. As the final boats crossed the line, stories of triumph, resilience and raw seamanship came to light — wrapping up an unforgettable chapter in offshore racing history. #RolexFastnetRace #RORCracing

Alban Mesnil & Romain Gibon’s JPK 1010 Abracadabra 2 takes top honours in IRC Four, finishing with a corrected time of 4d 11h 07m — in the largest and most diverse fleet of the Rolex Fastnet Race. A masterful offshore effort in a class full of seasoned campaigners, family crews, and first-time adventurers. #RolexFastnetRace #RORCracing #IRC4 #JPK1010 #OffshoreSailing 📸 RORC / Tidal Pulse Media

Ultimately it was Julien Bentz’s J/99 Whimjy 99 that crossed the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin finish line at 00:42 local time to take victory after IRC time correction by 19 minutes. “It changed a lot and was really difficult over the last 24 hours, because the conditions were shifty and the current challenging,” Bentz commented. “It was a rollercoaster of emotions, but we fought until the end and it paid off. “For most of the crew it’s our first Fastnet, so it's a great achievement. We have been working on this project for two years and, while it was a mix of intense racing and adventure, there was also a lot of discovery for us along the way. What was their winning formula? “A mix of many things of course and we prepared very well for two years. The crew and the atmosphere also – we’ve been sailing together for a very long time – maybe 45 years with Romain Troublé.” “It was a very good race for this boat – upwind and downwind, with no reaching – it was perfect,” added Troublé, son of former America’s Cup skipper and supporter Bruno. “The Fastnet Rock two days ago in the fog and in the dark at two o'clock in the morning was quite an amazing memory for us.” Full story; https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/j99-claims-rolex-fastnet-races-irc-three- #RolexFastnetRace #RORCracing 📸 RORC / Tidal Pulse

Alexis Loison and Jean-Pierre Kelbert’s JPK 1050 Léon has been crowned overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race. No other boat still racing on the 695 nautical mile course can catch the French doublehanded duo for overall honours in this, the 51st edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s offshore classic. Loison and Kelbert have won the event in its centenary year. With a record 444 boats on the start line this year, ranging from 30ft keelboats up to the giant 105ft Ultim foiling trimarans, this offshore race is proving more popular than ever. The ingredients for winning remain the same: experience, courage, skill, a fast boat along with a soupçon of good fortune. In order to win the Fastnet Challenge Cup, you need to beat your rivals under IRC, the rating rule which is used in order to handicap different designs of keelboats of various shapes and sizes, allowing them to race together. The first battle is to win your division, and yesterday it became clear that Léon had prevailed in the 70-boat IRC Two fleet. Overnight it became increasingly clear that none of the remaining boats still on the race course would be able to beat Léon on IRC corrected time. Full story: https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/leon-wins-the-centenary-edition-of-the-rolex-fastnet-race #RolexFastnetRace #RORCracing #Rolex #Sailing #Yachting ©️ Rolex / RORC / Tidal Pulse

A margin of less than two minutes secured the Class40 victory last night for Corentin Douguet and Axel Trehin’s Faites un don sur SNSM.org after 700 miles of tense, tightly fought racing. This pattern continued throughout the fleet, with several places contested by equally slim margins, while almost the entire first half the 24-strong fleet finished in just 47 minutes. Drama unfolded even as the starting cannon fired at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes when more than 20 per cent of the fleet jumped the gun, incurring two-hour time penalties that would only be applied after the finish. Class40s have a reputation for incredibly close racing, yet Guillaume Pirouelle and Cedric Chateau’s Seafrigo-Sogestran, together with Milan Kolacek’s Inland Roots Ocean Soul somehow found find a vein of wind that enabled them to leave the pack behind and exit the Solent with a useful early advantage. Full story: https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/maximum-tension-for-class40-winners #RolexFastnetRace #RORCracing #Class40 #Rolex ©️ RORC / Tidal Pulse Media

Bedouin Claims IRC One Victory at the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race. Skippered by Linda Goddard, the Swan 53 Bedouin has taken the top spot in IRC One, outperforming a highly competitive fleet in the 50–60 foot range. Racing with her daughters and close crew, Goddard’s campaign combined Corinthian spirit with impressive offshore performance to deliver a memorable class win in the centenary edition of the race. This result marks a standout moment in the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, and highlights the strength, determination, and teamwork at the heart of offshore sailing. #RolexFastnetRace #IRCOne #RORC #SwanYachts #OffshoreRacing 📸 Rolex / RORC / Tidal Pulse Media

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, there was great delight on the dock in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin's Port Chantereyne with the arrival of the first IMOCA, Association Petits Princes-Queguiner, skippered by the IMOCA class’ newest skipper 29-year-old Elodie Bonafous on the class’ latest launch. Setting off from Cowes ten minutes after the multihulls, it was the Justine Mettraux-skippered Teamwork-Team SNEF that was first IMOCA to exit the Solent, just astern of the lead IRC SZ monohulls. As the IMOCAs, with their giant ‘Dali’ foils and their unique fully enclosed cockpits, speared out southwest into the Channel, Association Petits Princes-Queguiner first got her nose into the lead. At this point Sam Davies’ Initiatives Coeur was trailing the fleet, but taking the deepest course into Lyme Bay meant Initiatives Coeur benefitted most from a favourable shift and better pressure to lead the IMOCAs out past Start Point. This was a small victory though as Jérémie Beyou's Charal took the lead soon after, passing the Lizard well offshore shortly after midnight on Saturday. Come 03:00 Sunday 27 July the leaders simultaneously tacked to funnel north through the narrow lane between the Land's End TSS and the Scilly Isles, with Charal continuing to lead Association Petits Princes-Queguiner, prior to the upwind slog, in fickle breeze, across the Celtic Sea. Halfway across, the leaders separated into two pairs – with Charal and Association Petits Princes-Queguiner in one, and Yoann Richomme's Paprec Arkea and Initiatives Coeur in the other – a situation that would continue to the finish. Read more: https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/imoca-firsttimer-claims-rolex-fastnet-race-honours #RolexFastnetRace #RORCracing #Rolex #Yachting ©️ Rolex / RORC / Tidal Pulse

Black Jack 100 crossed the finish line at 00:21 BST on 29 July 2025, claiming Monohull Line Honours in the 100th Rolex Fastnet Race, finishing the grueling 695 nm course from Cowes to Cherbourg in 2 days 12 h 31 m 21 s. “They were matching tack for tack… using the dirty air to stall their opponent,” reported the RORC, as Black Jack and Scallywag fought for the inside line rounding the Rock. After rounding Fastnet, Black Jack pulled ahead, building a 20nm lead as they raced toward the Scillies and on to Alderney. “We were a bit nervous at the end,” said Le Brun. “Max came up with a plan to hug the coast… we ended up with six knots of current pushing us along — and it worked.” “It feels like revenge. This feels like we have put the church in the middle of the village.” The centenary edition of the race attracted over 440 yachts, making it the largest offshore fleet in Rolex Fastnet Race history. With complex tides and light breeze early on, the 2025 race became a test of patience, tactical clarity, and experience — and Black Jack’s young crew delivered. #RolexFastnetRace #BlackJack100 #LineHonours #OffshoreRacing #Monohull #TristanLeBrun #RemonVos #RORC #CentenaryFastnet #TeamVictory #YachtRacing © Rolex | RORC / Tidal Pulse

In a fiercely contested Ocean Fifty division, Matthieu Perraut’s Inter Invest (FR44) stormed to class victory in the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race, finishing with an elapsed time of 2 days, 8 hours, 38 minutes. Close behind came Koesio and Viabilis Océans, with less than an hour separating the top three multihulls after over 600 miles of racing. #RolexFastnetRace #OceanFifty #RORCracing #OffshoreRacing #MultihullRacing #SailingHighlights 📸 RORC / ROLEX / Tidal Pulse

SVR Lazartigue defends her Rolex Fastnet Race multihull line honours SVR Lazartigue arrived in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in a time of 1 day 17 hours 18 minutes 4 seconds As dawn was showing its first rays this morning off Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, so the sleek light blue triple-hulled form of the Ultim trimaran SVR Lazartigue sped across the finish line of the 51st Rolex Fastnet Race to collect overall line honours at 04:38:04 BST. Given this year’s relatively light winds, her time of 1 day 17 hours 18 minutes 4 seconds was well outside the 1 day 8 hours 38 minutes 27 seconds record time she set in 2023’s gale-force conditions. Skipper Tom Laperche commented: “The race was different, more strategic and tactical. The windiest part was 20 knots, whereas last year it was 35. Versus Banque Populaire, early on we made a good decision to go close into the English coast and managed to cross them coming back on starboard. We got in front. It was difficult returning from Fastnet to Scilly, because the wind was stronger behind, so they reduced their deficit. Since yesterday afternoon we knew that it will be tactical between the gybes when they have a good speed.” Read more: https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/svr-lazartigue-defends-her-rolex-fastnet-race-multihull-line-honours #RolexFastnetRace #RORCracing 📸 Rolex | RORC / Tidal Pulse

Spectators in their thousands swarmed Cowes Green and the shores of the western Solent to witness the starts of the 51st Rolex Fastnet Race from 1120 until 1320 BST today. This year’s event marks the centenary of the first Fastnet Race that saw seven boats set sail from Ryde and finish in Plymouth in 1925. Fittingly the start saw a new record entry of 444 competitors, up from the previous largest of 430 in 2023, confirming the event as the world’s largest offshore race. To witness the start of this special centenary Rolex Fastnet Race, Anne, Princess Royal started the race from the Platform of the Royal Yacht Squadron where she was accompanied by Sir Timothy Lawrence along with several past and present Commodores and Admirals of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, led by current Admiral Janet Grosvenor. Mid-way through the start sequences competitors and spectators got to enjoy an aerial flypast from the Red Arrows. With Cowes and the Solent overcast thanks to an occluded front, the starts took place beneath an overcast sky in a 10-12 knot southwesterly and a building ebb tide. #RolexFastnetRace #RORCracing #IRCrating ©️ ROLEX | RORC | TIDAL PULSE MEDIA