Inaugural IRC Two-Handed European Championship to be held in July 2023

The inaugural IRC Two-Handed European Championship will take place from 2nd-9th July 2023, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with l’UNCL Pôle Course du YCF and La Société Nautique de la Trinité sur mer (SNT). The Championship will be decided by the combined results from two races: La Trinité – Cowes (350nm) starting on the 2nd July, and Cowes – Dinard – St Malo (150nm), starting on the 7th July.

“The IRC Two-Handed European Championship results will be extracted from the two races with no additional entry fee,” commented RORC PRO Steve Cole. “The IRC rating band has been chosen to include similar boats racing in IRC Two-Handed. There will be a Prize Giving at the RORC Clubhouse following the La Trinité – Cowes Race, and the European Championship Trophy will be awarded after the St Malo Race. The attraction of the Rolex Fastnet Race, starting on the 22nd July, means we are expecting a big fleet for the IRC Two-Handed European Championship.”

Legendary French skipper Géry Trentesaux is one of the driving forces behind the new IRC Two-Handed European Championship. After the merger of UNCL and the Yacht Club de France (YCF) in September 2022, Géry is the YCF Vice President and Racing President.

“With so many teams now racing IRC Two-Handed in France and the UK, it seems very natural to have a European Championship,” commented Géry Trentesaux. “La Trinité – Cowes is a 350-mile race connecting two famous offshore racing ports. Teams will have to manage Atlantic Ocean currents and land effects at the start, then there is the possibility of a fast reach across the Channel for a spectacular Solent finish in Cowes. The 150-mile Cowes Dinard St Malo race dates back over a century. Personally, I love the race and the finish in St Malo. I have won four times, as many as former British Prime minster, Edward Heath!”

The IRC Two-Handed European Championship is part of the RORC Season’s Points Championship the largest yacht racing series anywhere in the world. For information about the Royal Ocean Racing Club: www.rorc.org