RORC St Malo Race – breezy start!

Adelaide Star seen leaving the Commodore Yachting Corner at Gosport Marina just before one this afternoon hotly pursued by her sister ship Emerald Star as they sail down to the start line of the St Malo Race. Both boats are crewed by RYA sailing school students students many of whom are getting their first taste of off shore racing in this years Fastnet Campaign.

The St Malo Race, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with UNCL, Yacht Club de Dinard, Société Nautique de la Baie de St. Malo and the Royal Yacht Squadron is a qualifying race for the Fastnet Race itself.

The race to St. Malo from Cowes has always been a popular event and this weekend 177 yachts will race across the English Channel to the famous port. The race dates back to before the formation of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The overall winner will win the King Edward VII Cup, which was presented by the British Monarch to the Club Nautique de la Rance at Dinard in 1906.

After a breezy start with 30 knots of wind on the nose as the fleet reached the start, it was a downwind sail east along the Solent.  With 177 yachts rounding Bembridge in close quarters there were a few tense moments as yachts strove to gain an extra place or two. By 2200hrs Adelaide Star had passed the needles and tacked south on the long sail west of Alderney and the Casquets rocks and on to the finish line outside the port of St Malo.

Related:

1. Rorc Morgan Cup Fastnet qualifying race
2. Round the Island Race 2009 starts in style
3. Fastnet 2009 Commodore Yachting crew on the start line
4. Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race – be there!
5. Fastnet Race 2009 campaign starts in 10 weeks