The 2026 RORC Racing Season will deliver one of the most diverse, challenging and internationally connected offshore programmes in the sport, designed for owners and skippers looking to race across a full ten months of competition. The season spans more than a dozen major offshore races and championship events, linked through the world’s largest offshore racing series; the RORC Season’s Points Championship.

The RORC 2026 Notice of Race sets out a clear and structured pathway for competitors, with the emphasis on professionally organised offshore racing, robust safety standards and the internationally recognised IRC and MOCRA rating systems.

RORC Season Timeline: January to October 2026

January and February: Atlantic & Antigua

The season begins with the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Antigua on 11 January, followed by the Nelson’s Cup in Antigua and the RORC Caribbean 600 on 23 February. These long distance races set the tone for the year, offering almost four thousand miles of superb racing within the opening six weeks of the season.

Spring: Solent Training and Early Offshore Miles

After the RORC Easter Challenge inshore training regatta. In early May, teams return to offshore racing with the Cervantes Trophy Race to Le Havre which starts on 2 May, followed by the North Sea Race on 15 May, the Myth of Malham Race on 23 May, and the De Guingand Bowl Race on 30 May. The inshore 2026 IRC European Championships will take place at the International Poole Regatta from the 22 May.

June and July: Peak Offshore Season

June opens with the Morgan Cup from Cowes to Dartmouth on the 12th. Later in the month the 704 mile Round Ireland Race starts on 20 June, held in association with Wicklow Sailing Club. July features the Cowes to Dinard Saint Malo Race on 3 July and the Channel Race on 25 July. These established summer classics remain core to the RORC calendar.

August and September: Baltic, Britain and the Season Finale

The third edition of the Baltic Sea Race starts on 8 August from Helsinki, combining northern sailing conditions with long distance challenge. A day later, on 9 August, the 1800 mile Round Britain and Ireland Race begins from Cowes, one of the longest and most technical races in the Championship.

The 2026 IRC National Championship in Dartmouth runs from 26 to 29 August. The final qualifying race for the 2026 Season’s Points Championship is the Cherbourg Race on 4 September.

The 2026 Rolex Middle Sea Race holds a special place in the scoring structure: while it starts on 17 October 2026, it will count as the opening race of the 2027 Season’s Points Championship.

The Cowes Offshore Series (COS)

The Cowes Offshore Series will be in its second year in 2026. All races marked “(COS)” in the programme form part of this series, giving teams a structured sequence of Solent-based offshore challenges across the spring and summer. The series is designed to provide accessible, high-quality offshore competition, ideal for both seasoned offshore teams and crews developing towards longer RORC races. With varied courses, competitive fleets and easy logistics from Cowes, the Cowes Offshore Series continues to grow as a cornerstone of the annual programme.

Scoring and Championships

The RORC Season’s Points Championship uses the established High Points Scoring System, rewarding performance relative to fleet size. Bonus points are available for major races, with a maximum of thirty five bonus points in a season. A team’s class score comes from its best five offshore races plus bonus points. The Jazz Trophy is won by the team with the highest total score for the season in any of the IRC Classes. The scoring framework supports both fully crewed and two handed entries, alongside dedicated trophies for multihulls and Class40s plus special awards for youth participation, sailing school yachts and service yachts.

Why the Season Matters

For owners and skippers, the 2026 RORC season offers variety and competitive depth. Sailors can test themselves in the Atlantic trades, the tides of the Channel, the challenges of the North Sea, the strategic intensity of the Baltic and the long form adventure of a circumnavigation of Britain and Ireland. With clear rating class structures and world class race management, the 2026 programme provides one of the most complete offshore racing seasons anywhere in the world. The RORC Annual Dinner & Prize Giving, usually held in London in November, is a fitting celebration for the RORC Season.