RTYC Commodore Richard Powell Skippers Rogan Josh to Morgan Cup Victory

The Salcombe Gin Morgan Cup Race started in thrilling conditions in the Solent. The RORC fleet powered off the Royal Yacht Squadron Line downwind to the east in 20 knots of south-westerly wind. As the tide turned, the sea state flattened for a top speed charge into the Eastern Solent. The course took the fleet into upwind mode around the southside of the Isle of Wight, followed by a tactical night, slogging upwind in the English Channel. After several days of windy weather the sea state was up and the beat to Dartmouth was a tough one. The RORC Race team reported that sail damage and mal de mer resulted in a number of retirements but all of the crew and fleet have been accounted for.

Royal Thames Commodore Richard Powell racing First 40 Rogan Josh was delighted to win the Morgan Cup Race overall under IRC. Although organised by RORC, the Morgan Cup silver trophy belongs to the Royal Thames Yacht Club and  was donated to the club by the JP Morgan family in 1929, with the race joining the RORC programme in 1958. Richard Powell is believed to be the first RTYC Commodore in living memory to win the Morgan Cup.

“It was a really tough race,” commented Richard Powell. “ Around the back of the Island it was very lumpy, and it stayed that way until three or four in the morning because there had been big storms for the previous two days, the seas were still heavy. There was a lot of slamming, and I think the summary in the bar afterwards was damaged bits and pieces around the fleet.

“We have been there or thereabouts for a while. We won the IRC Two Nationals last year, and we have often been near the top, but I think this is our first overall offshore win, which is great. To win the Morgan Cup is a huge thrill. It is a big cup, and at the Royal Thames it is one of the trophies people really want to win. As Commodore of the Royal Thames, that makes it very special. I don’t know when that last happened, but certainly not for a long time.

“Of course, it is not me, it is the team. We never have professionals on board. It is strictly amateur, with Royal Thames members, young members and friends. The good sailors are all friends, but they are not professionals. They work incredibly hard, and we tend to do well at night because we keep going and keep pushing. That was the key to this race.

“It is also another reminder of the strong relationship between RORC and the Royal Thames. The two clubs collaborate very well, and winning the Morgan Cup in that context makes it even more special.” 

The overall podium featured two RORC Flag Officers. RORC Vice Commodore Derek Shakespeare racing Bulldog was second. Third overall and winner of IRC Three was Rob Craigie’s Bellino, co-skippered by RORC Commodore Deb Fish.

First to finish, taking Multihull Line Honours and the win after MOCRA time correction, was Dave Summers’ Dazcat 1495 DMS Vinyl. Skippered by Brendan Seward and Tom Gall DMS Vinyl completed the race in 20 hours 11 Mins 28 Secs. 

Monohull Line Honours went to Trevor Middleton’s JPK 1180 Black Sheep in an elapsed time of 20 hours 15 Mins 32 Secs. Black Sheep was fourth overall after IRC corrected time and in IRC One was ahead of two top French rivals. Jaques Pelletier’s  L’Ange de Milon was second with Francois Charles’ Sun Hill IV third in class.

In IRC Two Handed, Gavin Howe’s Sun Fast 3600 Tigris, raced by two sailors in their 20s, Alaric Bates & Albert Barber, was the winner of the short-handed class. Both have sailed with Gavin Howe this season but this was the first time they had sailed Tigris together. Albert Barber has been part of the RORC Griffin Offshore Pathway for three years. Albert will be racing with Griffin for this year’s Round Britain and Ireland Race, as co-skipper of Sun Fast 3600 RORC Griffin.

“It was a really high intensity race, especially at the start and then going back up wind in the big breeze. We were exhausted by the end, but the boat was great and it was a really good result for us.” commented Alaric Bates. “I have been sailing with Gavin (Howe) since I was 19, and as he wasn’t free for this race, he asked if myself and Albert (Barber) wanted to race Tigris together. That was a lot of trust from Gavin, especially in those conditions.

“The part of the race we were proudest of was between Ventnor and St Catherine’s. We were alongside Fujitsu British Soldier, which was fully crewed, and we were matching them tack for tack, and actually gaining on them up that beat. That is probably where we made the biggest difference. It was very lumpy, with breaking water coming over the deck.

“Dartmouth is always a great place to finish. Now the priority is to get Tigris back to Hamble and give her a proper wash down, so Gavin gets the boat back in good order.” 

Simon Farren & Ben Harden continued their fine form this season taking second in IRC Two Handed in their A40 Warrior. Completing the double handed podium was the Danish JPK 1080 Ronin, sailed by Klaus Rasmussen & Benjamin Grosman.

In IRC Four, three very different boats made up the podium. Mark Brown’s JPK 1010 Jetpack was victorious with Rob Cotterill’s J/109 Mojo Risin runner up and classic Swan 44 Astrid, skippered by Paddy Moriarty, was third.

The Morgan Cup Race was the eighth race of the RORC Season’s Points Championship, the world’s largest offshore racing series and the fourth race of the RORC Cowes Offshore Series. The RORC Season’s Points Championship continues with a double-header on 20 June with the start of the East Coast Race from Harwich to Breskens organised by the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association and the Haven Ports Yacht Club. The Round Ireland Race organised by Wicklow Sailing Club also starts on 20 June with 57 entries.