Preview RORC De Guingand Bowl Race 2026
Start : 1100 BST Saturday 30 May, 2026
Course : Cowes – Around Marks (110-160nm)
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Royal Yacht Squadron
The RORC De Guingand Bowl Race marks the seventh race in the 2026 RORC Season’s Points Championship—the world’s largest offshore racing series. The De Guingand Bowl Race is also the third race of the RORC Cowes Offshore Series which counts the best five results from seven races, all starting from Cowes, IOW.
The De Guingand Bowl Race starts and finishes in the Solent, giving the RORC race team full flexibility to design a course that is both tactically challenging and strategically demanding. With no fixed route, the course is set the day before the start, allowing it to respond directly to the forecast and deliver the most dynamic racing possible.
Palanad 4 © RORC
Antoine Magre’s Manuard 50 Palanad 4 headlines IRC Zero on its return after a standout early season that included overall victory in the RORC Transatlantic Race and a class win in the RORC Caribbean 600. In IRC One, Trevor Middleton’s JPK 1180 Black Sheep continues to build experience, while Nick and Jacquetta Edmonds’ J/45 Stickleback racks up miles ahead of the Round Britain & Ireland Race. In IRC Two, RORC Vice Commodore Derek Shakespeare returns with J/122 Bulldog, second overall in the Myth of Malham. The IRC 2 Class for the De Guingand Bowl Race has a tight rating band under IRC for the division.
Sun Fast 3600 Bellino © Rick Tomlinson/RORC
The largest class with 19 boats is IRC Three, notable for its depth of double-handed talent, led by Rob Craigie’s Bellino with RORC Commodore Deb Fish, Bellino is the three-time RORC Season’s Points champion overall winner and was in fine form in winning last weekend’s Myth of Malham Race. Of the fully crewed boats racing in IRC Three for the De Guingand Bowl, Simon Farren’s A40 Warrior has had a great start to the season, as have the RORC Griffin Pathway squad racing Sun Fast 3600 RORC Griffin. For the De Guingand Bowl, the RORC youth team is skippered by Patrick Whelan and Will Jarman, which will be taking on the Round Ireland Race next month.
Sun Fast 3600 RORC Griffin © Rick Tomlinson/RORC
Sophie & Richard Palmer in the Rolex Fastnet Race © Sophie Palmer
There are 15 teams racing in IRC Two-Handed, across the IRC Classes including Richard Palmer racing with his daughter Sophie in JPK 1010 Jangada. Richard Palmer will be taking part in his first RORC Race since completing the Globe40 round the world race double-handed with Rupert Holmes. Father and son team Peter & Duncan Bacon also return to RORC racing with JPK 1030 In Code.
S&S 41 Winsome © Paul Wyeth/RORC
IRC Four forms the most diverse fleet, bringing together a mix of classic and modern designs, notably Harry Heijst’s S&S 41 Winsome, Rob Cotterill’s J/109 Mojo Risin’, third overall and class winner at the Myth of Malham. A three strong JPK 1010 contingent will make for an interesting battle in Jangada, Ben Owen’s Leonard from the USA and defending IRC 4 champion; Mark Brown’s Jetpack.
RORC Cowes Clubhouse © Paul Wyeth/RORC
The RORC Cowes Clubhouse welcomes all competitors, family, and friends to the Fastnet Bar. Dining options are available for the Restaurant and the Terrace. Booking is recommended. BOOK HERE
How to Follow the Race
• First Start: 1100 BST Saturday 30th May
• Best Viewing: The Parade, Cowes — a spectacular sight with boats on view from about an hour before the start.
• Race Tracking: All boats are fitted with satellite trackers, with live updates available throughout the race. YB Tracking Link – HERE
Also available on smart devices free from your App. store (YB Races).
• Follow Online: Near real-time results via www.SailRaceHQ.com.
• Social Media: #RORCRacing on many platforms including Facebook, Instagram and X.
About the De Guingand Bowl
The race is named after the great EP ‘Buster’ De Guingand, the highly influential former RORC Vice Commodore who helped mastermind the evolution of the IOR rule. Buster was a regular crew member on the famous 48ft Sibbick yawl Thalassa.