Large Solent fleet kick starts busy RORC Season in Fastnet year

Watch out for lots of action on the Solent this coming Easter! Starting on Good Friday, up to 60 yachts will battle it out over three days of racing for the Red Funnel Easter Challenge on tight Solent courses run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

A diverse fleet, comprising international as well as local sailors, will open a packed 2009 schedule, culminating in the RORC’s Season’s Points Championship and this year headlined by the classic race – The Rolex Fastnet in August.

In readiness for some highly competitive racing, skippers will be putting crews through their paces and taking advantage of the free on and off the water coaching sessions that have become such an integral and unique part of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge.

Look out for the three boats entered by the Tri-Service initiative ‘TOE IN THE WATER’ which uses sailing as a vehicle to re-inspire injured servicemen and women. In their first year of racing last summer, they achieved three top five finishes in Cowes Week!

Full details of results, news from the race course and action out on the water, plus daily photo gallery can be viewed at: www.rorc.org.