Commodores' Cup Notice of Race

RORC publish details of next year's Rolex-sponsored regatta

RORC have today published the Notice of Race for the Rolex Commodores' Cup 2004. The event will take place from 25 July until 1 August.

As usual the event is designed for cruiser racers and is held under IRC. The schedule for the event includes two inshore races on both the Monday and Tuesday (26 and 27 July) followed by a short coastal race of up to 12 hours duration on the Wednesday (28 July), two more inshore races on the Thursday. Friday will see another inshore race followed by the Channel Race of 24-36 hours duration.

There have been a few modifications to the event. Teams will again comprise three boats, but this time teams must apply via their national authority and each national authority can field up to four teams. Thus the RYA might field four teams that would include Channel Islands and Welsh teams that fall under their jurisdiction. The nationality requirements under the race rules specifies that 50% of the crew on each team's boat must either be nationals or have lived for 12 months immediately prior to the regatta in the country their boat is representing.

Teams will be comprised of 3 boats. National Authorities are allowed to enter up to 4 teams each

Once again the RYA are running the selection trials for the UK team.

RYA Racing Manager Janet Grosvenor told thedailysail that at present they are expecting teams from Belgium, France, Holland and Ireland in addition to the UK.

Other changes to next year's event are that it now includes RORC's Channel Race and hence the Rolex Commodore's Cup fleet will be racing alongside the regular RORC offshore fleet in this one race. The dates have also been moved forward in the calendar as it has increasingly not suited competitors to have it so close to Skandia Cowes Week.

To download the pdf Notice of Race click here .