Place to be – Part I

Clare McComb reflects upon some of the stories from which have sprung the international celebrations of ocean racing that will soon be taking place in the Solent, the English Channel and of course on the Irish Sea

The year 2025 is going to be unusually spectacular for British yachting, with two of its most powerful and influential organisations preparing for separate and mighty celebrations. The RORC proudly reaches its centenary, both of the founding of the club and of the inaugural Fastnet ‘ocean’ race. The Royal Thames, on the other hand, is marking its 250th year, another impressive occasion. Two different clubs, so separate and distinct, and yet now working closely together whenever needed to be the pillars – or perhaps backbone – of our yachting establishment. It was not always so.