RC44S HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN 2018

RC44 VIRGIN GORDA CUP
© NicoMartinez/MartinezStudio

Intense one design competition resumes promptly for the RC44s in 2018. With no need to wait for the weather to improve in the Mediterranean, the RC44 Calero Marinas Cup fires up off Lanzarote in Canary Islands on 1 March with practice racing the previous day.

The 2017 season concluded off Lanzarote’s capital, Arrecife at the end of November, leaving just a three month break over the winter months. The short break means that less ‘cobwebs’ may have formed, with crews expected to have lost none of their competitive edge from last season.

Racing at the RC44 Calero Marinas Cup takes place over Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th March. Lying in the middle of the trade winds belt, average wind conditions for Lanzarote during March are 13 knots.

Follow the team's progress here.

The 2018 World Championship will be held at the fourth event of the season, in Cascais over 26th to 30th September. Located on the mouth of the River Tagus leading up to Lisbon, Cascais is open to the Atlantic and comes with all the potential for big winds and large oceanic swell. It is for this reason, combined with excellent hospitality provided by the Clube Naval de Cascais, that the Portugese stopover is another regular on the RC44 circuit, having featured every year since 2012. It last hosted the World Championship in 2015, which was won by Team Nika.

The 2018 RC44 Championship will conclude in Malta over 14th to 18th November. The RC44 Valletta Cup opened the RC44 season in 2015 and closed it in 2016. Liking the potential for mixed conditions, as well as the ancient magnificence of Valletta and the giant fortified walls of the Grand and Marsamxett Harbours, the RC44 owners have decided to round off the 2018 season racing off the Maltese capital.

Bertrand Favre, RC44 Class Manager, said: “It is a great pleasure to be visiting so many of the top sailing venues once again in 2018. I’m especially pleased to be returning to Portorož in Slovenia after such a long absence. We look forward to another season of some of the most highly competitive yet cost-effective one design racing available to owner-drivers.”

 

RC44 Championship Tour 2018 event schedule

  • 28 February - 4 March – RC44 Calero Marinas Cup 2018 – Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
  • 9 - 13 May – RC44 Portorož Cup – Portorož, Slovenia
  • 27 June - 1 July - RC44 Marstrand Cup – Marstrand, Sweden
  • 26 - 30 September - RC44 Cascais World Championship – Cascais, Portugal
  • 14 - 18 November – RC44 Valletta Cup – Valletta, Malta