Dates
1 May 2027
Duration
2.3 days
Distance
160 nm
Route
Cowes → Le Havre
About
First race of the 2026 RORC Cowes Offshore Series.
The Cervantes Trophy is the Royal Ocean Racing Club's classic cross-Channel sprint from Cowes to Le Havre, on the Normandy coast. The course is approximately 110–160 nm depending on the course set by the race committee on the day. The finish is hosted by the Société des Régates du Havre.
For 2026 it's the first race of the new Cowes Offshore Series and counts toward the RORC Season's Points Championship.
Joining Unity for Cervantes means a Friday afternoon brief and dock-out, the race itself across Saturday and into Sunday, and a Sunday delivery back to the Solent. Suited to crew with at least one previous offshore weekend.
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Race programme
Flexible Fri/Sat arrival · race start off Cowes · race overnight to Le Havre · Sun arrival · Sun PM sail home.
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Race programme
Flexible Fri/Sat arrival · race start off Cowes · race overnight to Le Havre · Sun arrival · Sun PM sail home.
Friday — pre-race brief & dock-out
16:00 onwardsCrew arrive Mercury Yacht Harbour. Skipper brief, kit check, safety brief. Dinner aboard or ashore in Cowes.
Saturday morning — late arrivals & condensed brief
by 09:00Saturday-arrival crew in by 09:00. Condensed brief, kit check, lifejacket fit before dock-out.
Saturday — race start
see RORC SIRace start off Cowes. Course south across the Channel toward Le Havre.
Sunday — arrival Le Havre
Berthing at Société des Régates du Havre. Optional ashore time for the prize-giving.
Sunday — return delivery to Solent
Delivery back across the Channel. Arrival Mercury Yacht Harbour late Sunday or early Monday.
Documents
- Download
RORC 2026 Annual Notice of Race
Notice of Race · 6.6 MB
Good to know
Meeting point
Mercury Yacht Harbour, Satchell Lane, Hamble-le-Rice, SO31 4HQ. We meet on the pontoon by your assigned berth — your skipper will share the berth number and a location pin in the crew WhatsApp group the week before.
Arrival
- Arrive by the start time shown on this event page.
- Subject to availability you can arrive the night before, arrange with the team
Parking
Free at Mercury, except Round the Island Race weekend.
Crew WhatsApp
Set up by the Wednesday before. Confirms timings, weather, destination berth.
Before you arrive
- Emergency contact, medical info and waiver in your dashboard profile.
- International races: upload passport details.
Essential
- Waterproof sailing jacket + salopettes
- Sailing boots (deck shoes only OK for inshore day races)
- Warm base layers (no cotton) + mid-layer fleece
- Hat and sailing gloves
- Sun hat, sunglasses with retainer, sun cream
- Head torch with red-light mode (any night sailing or offshore)
- Personal medication
- Sea-sickness remedy (taken 30 mins before the start)
- Water bottle and snacks for the day
- Soft holdall or dry bag — no hard suitcases
Overnight
- 3-4 season sleeping bag (no bedding provided)
- Toiletries, change of clothes, quick-dry towel
Offshore / double-handed
- Notebook for debrief
- Passport for cross channel races
Provided
- Life jackets and safety kit
- Charts, AIS, VHF (+ satcom offshore)
- Galley kit, water, tea, coffee
- Homebase Mooring fees
- Insurance (Security and damage deposit held for Bareboat Charters)
Not provided
Food and snacks aboard — bring your own, or shared crew food order on overnight / offshore (cost shared, leftovers taken home).
Leave behind
Hard suitcases, hair dryers, excess alcohol.
Who can join
- Intermediate — prior race yacht training
- Minimum age: 18
Organised by
Royal Ocean Racing Club
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is recognised as the premier organiser of racing for offshore yachts around the world and is a leading authority on safety at sea. Established in 1925, the Club's Fastnet Race has become the world's largest offshore race by number of entries. Supported by Rolex since 2001, the Rolex Fastnet Race attracts over 400 boats from around the world. The RORC organises races in British and European locations, as well as Antigua, Grenada, Lanzarote, and Helsinki. The Club has approximately 4000 members across the globe
Visit Royal Ocean Racing ClubQuestions
What's on the boat vs what I bring?
What if the weather is bad?
I'm sea-sick prone — can I still come?
I don't have a partner — can I still book?
Can I arrive the night before?
How do I cancel or change my booking?
Reviews
“This was my first ever race and it was fantastic. Completing my second training session the weekend before with Unity, I felt comfortable and confident to get involved and know what was expected of me in my role as crew. There was a clear briefing the morning of the race, setting out how the weekend would look and what we would be doing. Between Cal as instructor and the other crew members sharing their own knowledge, I came away from the weekend excited and craving my next race - knowing I love offshore racing. From my first contact with Chris, both weekend training sessions (last year and this year with Cal) and completing my first race, I have felt supported and able to be myself, while learning so much and never feeling silly to ask questions. I plan to continue racing and training with Unity for a long time and would easily recommend the company to anyone interested in sailing and racing.”
“”
More with Cal Finlayson
Interested in this race?
£575 · Sat 1 May