Chairmans Message for 2023

This will be EAORA’s 74th year of offshore racing on the East Coast.

The season begins on Coronation weekend with the Royal Burnham YC’s Ralph Herring Trophy Race from West Mersea to Burnham on Sunday May 7 followed by West Mersea YC’s Pattinson Cup race from Burnham to Mersea, on Monday May 8 – allowing racers to make the most of the Bank Holiday while not missing the opportunity to celebrate the Coronation. 

Those aiming to qualify for this year’s Rolex Fastnet race will look forward to taking part in the 180-mile RORC North Sea Race (Harwich to Scheveningen) on Friday May 19 and the 120-mile RORC East Coast Race (Harwich to Ostend) on Thursday June 15.

The East Coast Race also acts as the feeder to the ever-popular Offshore Regatta, a highly sociable as well as competitive long weekend which continues with the Cannonball Trophy (Ostend to Ramsgate) on Saturday June 17 and Graham Wallis Trophy (Ramsgate to Harwich) on Sunday June 18.

There will also be a shorter Haven Combined Clubs passage race from Harwich to Ostend on Thursday June 15 to encourage those who do not need RORC qualifying miles to join in the fun of the regatta.

The Walker Challenge Cup (Harwich to Lowestoft) on Saturday July 1 also sees EAORA combining with HCC – potentially resulting in the biggest and most competitive offshore fleet on the East Coast this year.

Then on Saturday August 5 the Amazon Cup (Harwich to Ramsgate) provides a feeder for Ramsgate Week and the EAORA programme continues with the classic Round the Goodwins Race on Sunday August 6.

On Sunday August 19 we race from Burnham to Upnor for Medway YC’s historic Jane’s Cup, and race back the following day for the Royal Corinthian YC’s Thames Estuary Shield.   

On Saturday September 2, EAORA joins forces with Burnham Week for the Royal Burnham YC’s Houghton Cup, combined with Burnham Week’s Town Cup, the highlight of Burnham Week. 

The final event in the 2023 EAORA programme will be West Mersea YC’s Buckley Goblets on Friday September 22. The 80-mile race from Mersea to Ostend is always a highlight of the season.    

Once again DXB Pumps are generously backing the entire EAORA season. The EAORA Youth programme, sponsored by Fox’s Chandlery, offers prizes to encourage the younger generation to race offshore. 

All yachts with a current IRC or MOCRA certificate or a SER (Single Event Rating), whether endorsed or not, and which meet the relevant safety requirements, are welcome to join in the season’s racing.   

The EAORA race committee, PRO Andy Wise with the help of Brian Bolton, Paul Wood, Cathy Brown and myself, will be carefully looking at courses, NOR’s and everything needed for a successful season’s offshore racing. Full details are provided on the website, eaora.org.uk.   

The ethos of EAORA combines demanding offshore racing and equally enjoyable social get-togethers pre- or post-race. We value the support of our member clubs, and their enthusiasm for entertaining us, and we hope our offshore crews will support the clubs and swell their bar takings. 

I look forward to seeing you all out on the water. 

Claire Scott