Image: Pegasus of Northunberland (blue hull) © Rick Tomlinson/RORC
Race Reports from the Cervantes Trophy by Griffin Sailors: Ollie Baddeley & Will Jarman on Sun Fast 3600 RORC Griffin and Rosie Hill and Willow Bland on Open 50 Pegasus of Northumberland.
The RORC Griffin Race Team officially launched its 2025 offshore campaign with a strong showing in the Cervantes Trophy Race, held over the weekend of 3rd–4th May. Racing from Cowes to Le Havre against a competitive fleet of 94 yachts, the Griffin crew faced over 100 miles of dynamic offshore racing conditions in what proved to be a memorable and tactical season opener.
The race began on Saturday morning at 10:00 with a gentle breeze of 3–7 knots of true wind speed off the Royal Yacht Squadron line. The Griffin team navigated through the Solent with careful sail handling, making multiple changes in response to fluctuating wind angles and pressure. Progress was steady, and as they cleared the Nab Tower, a bold strategic decision by navigator Albert Barber paid off. Steering to the north side of the course while most of the fleet hugged the rhumb line, Griffin found more breeze, enabling them to surge ahead and round Owers Tower in 4th position at 18:00.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the wind steadily built, reaching sustained 20 knots with occasional gusts up to 29 knots. A heavier spinnaker was hoisted and under Abby Hire’s helming, Griffin surged south across the Channel, clocking speeds of 12 knots toward the French coast.
Nightfall brought both stunning skies and technical challenges. The crew shifted into a solid night-watch rhythm, managing a series of tactical changes. One significant moment came during an attempted transition to the Code Zero sail to take advantage of a favourable angle. A jammed jib head initially delayed the move, but with clear coordination and a revised approach, the team resolved the issue and pressed on with renewed momentum.
By 22:00, 30-knot winds had settled in across the course. Griffin responded with a swift reduction in sail area, hoisting the J3 and putting a reef in the mainsail. The adjustments allowed them to hold course precisely, sailing the layline perfectly to the next mark just off Ouistreham, which they rounded at 03:45.
The final leg of the race was perhaps the most physically and mentally demanding. Beating into the swell off the French coast with a tired but focused crew, Griffin pressed on. As dawn broke over the Channel, they rounded the final mark and pushed hard to the finish. At 08:10 on Sunday morning, Griffin crossed the line in Le Havre.
The team secured 26th overall and 20th in IRC 3 class, a respectable finish in a highly competitive and experienced fleet. It was a performance marked by bold decisions, slick teamwork, and resilience in challenging conditions. With the De Guingand Bowl Race up next, the Griffin team is full of motivation and looking forward to building on this solid start.
Written by Ollie Baddeley & Will Jarman
Two members of the RORC Griffin Youth Squad, Rosie Hill and Willow Bland raced on board Ross Hobson’s powerful Open 50 Pegasus of Northumberland for the Cervantes Trophy Race.
“Banksy and Ross invited us aboard Pegasus of Northumberland, an Open 50, for the first RORC race of the season and we jumped at the chance. After some boat prep and a Friday night crew dinner, we were eager to go. Ross and Banksy have so much race experience, and we were keen to learn from them.
With a 4m draft, we slipped lines at 0600 Saturday. Light breeze at the start faded to glassy water by our 10:20am gun, kicking off a game of snakes and ladders through the Solent. Sunshine and light airs carried us past the forts and out to Owers, where the fleet compressed dramatically. By mid-afternoon, we could still see both the front and back of the fleet—nearly six hours after the start.
After rounding Owers, the wind built quickly. We were off on port tack, powering toward a stunning sunset. Without a J1 or working keel hydraulics due to earlier gear failures, we soon became overpowered. Down came the Code Zero and up went the J2. As darkness fell and breeze built to 30 knots, we shifted to a reefed main and J3.
Approaching Le Havre by dawn, our draft meant a quick turn back. We blasted across the Channel and returned to Hamble by 5pm Sunday. Huge thanks to Banksy and Ross for giving us this incredible Griffin opportunity—an unforgettable race and an incredible learning experience!
Written by Rosie Hill & Willow Bland