A NEW offshore racing series — which has successfully drawn big crowds to Cowes from the Isle of Wight and beyond — has established itself as the "must-sail circuit" on The Solent.
The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Cowes Offshore Racing Series finished its first season with seven "thrilling, hard-fought" races.
The series, created to bring competitive offshore racing closer to home, saw more than 500 sailors, both Corinthian and professionals, compete.
The fleet faced a range of conditions, from "glassy Solent drifters" to "bruising legs around notorious headlands".
The races, which took place in the club's centenary year, have been described as a "bold new chapter" for Solent-based offshore competition.
The format of the series, combining short sprints and coastal classics, has been praised for its accessibility and challenge.
"The Cowes Offshore Racing Series has quickly established itself as a must-sail circuit for both Corinthian and professional crews," an RORC spokesperson said.
"Its format — racing from The Solent into the English Channel and back — combines accessibility with offshore challenge, while delivering exciting racing for crews and a warm and lively welcome at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse, before and after racing."
The Cowes Offshore Racing Series is set to become a "cornerstone" of the racing calendar.
This year's class winners will take to the stage to collect their Assuage Trophies at the RORC Centenary Annual Dinner and Prizegiving ceremony at the Sheraton Grand London, on November 15.
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