Morgan Cup Race

THE ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB

20, ST. JAMES’S PLACE, LONDON SW1A 1NN

RORC Season’s Points Championship 2008

MORGAN CUP RACE

Friday 6th June
First warning signal: 1920


Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Royal
Thames Yacht Club, the Yacht Club de Cherbourg and the Royal Yacht Squadron.

START: From the RYS Cowes to the East around marks. Finish at Cherbourg.

Course choices range from approximately 88 to 132 miles.

(Report by Louay Habib)



Last year’s Morgan Cup was a Gallic fantastic with French boats winning four
of the six classes. This year’s race sees a huge variety of yachts all
racing under IRC; in all there are 30 different yacht designs competing for
the Morgan Cup. In Class Super Zero, Piet Vroon’s Lutra 56, Formidable 3
will be hoping to keep up their consistent form this season.



In Class Zero, Mike Greville’s Ker 39, Erivale III will be hoping to build
on the team’s victory in the Myth of Malham Race. They will face some tough
opposition in the shape of the two Class 40s: Mark Wynne-Smith’s
Rogers-designed Gusilliam and Mike West’s Akilaria 40 Kerlaria.



Class One looks like it will be very competitive. Philippe Delaporte’s
J/122, Pen Azen, which was unable to compete in the Myth of Malham because
they were blockaded in Cherbourg, is entered, as is the Army Sailing
Association’s A40RC, British Soldier. Both have been consistent this season
and Tom Hayhoe’s Prima 38, Mostly Harmless, had a good race last bank
holiday. They are joined by RORC Ex-Commodore, Peter Rutter and his crew on
Quokka 7. The Corby 36 is part of the pre-selected British team for the
Rolex Commodores’ Cup next month.

The Class Two fleet includes Adrian Lower’s J/109, Jaguar of Burnham, who
are also in one of this year’s British teams for the Rolex Commodores’ Cup.
They have been in fine offshore form with steady results but have yet to win
Class.

A strong Class 3 fleet features David Lees High Tension 36, Hephzibah from
the East Coast of England along with Betrand Lavardier’s X-342, Excalibur 3
from France and possibly the oldest boat in the race, Stephen Winter’s
Carter 36, Mavis III of Gosport, which was runner up in Class for the 2007
Rolex Fastnet Race.



This will be the first RORC race to finish in France since the beginning of
May and competitors are cordially invited to the Yacht Club de Cherbourg
after racing. However, The Morgan Cup trophies will be presented at the
Royal Thames Yacht Club Prizegiving dinner on Tuesday 11th November 2008.
RORC Medallions will be presented on Tuesday 10th June 1930 at the
Clubhouse, 20 St James’s Place, London SW1. All crews welcome.



RORC Season’s Points Championship 2008

The Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Season’s Points Championship consists of a
testing series of races which attracts an international and varied fleet.
For the serious offshore sailor, trying to win the Season’s Points
Championship is the real challenge. The Season’s Points Championship this
year includes the tactically challenging BMW Round Ireland Race and a new
addition to the RORC sailing programme, The Cowes Madeira Race which offers
an exciting opportunity of a race to Madeira and back, some 1500 miles away
in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa. For those with less time, the
programme also includes a race to the charming port of La Rochelle.

For the full RORC racing programme go to: &lthttp://www.rorc.org>http://www.rorc.org