COWES has hosted some superb sailing events this summer and the RORC IRC Double-Handed Nationals was right up there among them this week.

The race, which started from the Royal Yacht Squadron line last Friday, finished on The Solent after racing around some challenging marks — and in challenging weather, with lighter than normal winds.

It has been quite a year for Tim Goodhew and Kelvin Matthews racing Sun Fast 3200 Cora. 

Following on from winning the IRC Two-Handed and IRC Three in the 2023 RORC Season’s Points Championship, Cora has become the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s double-handed champions.

Cora won the Salcombe Gin Castle Rock Race at the beginning of the month and scored a double-win in the final race on September 9 — taking line honours and the win after IRC time correction for Race Two. 

With very light airs and a neap tide, the course for the final race of the IRC Double-Handed National Championship headed west, then south of the Isle of Wight, leaving St Catherine's Point to Port. 

With the forecast wind increase not materialising, the race was shortened.

“I think we got a great start, and that was critical,” said Tim.

"The result was really rewarding, because winning in light airs requires making very few mistakes — and I don’t think we left much out there.”