News

Plymouth is already getting ready for their annual Sailing Race Week. Devon’s picturesque coastline will be the backdrop for another exhilarating Sailing Regatta 10-13th July 2025. The Club is looking forward to welcoming experienced sailors and those wanting to get into racing. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a curious newcomer, this event offers a…

2024 is another very busy year once again in the RWYC offshore/ oceanic calendar. Sunday 5th May 2024 sees the 17th edition of the famous OSTAR race along with the 7th edition of the TWOSTAR race. The making of legend’s, the pathway to professional sailing careers, or simply the challenge of a lifetime, the OSTAR…

1200hrs, Sunday 13th August saw the start of the Plymouth Fastnet Race. A South- south westerly 14-16 knot wind greeted them as they made their way out of the western entrance of Plymouth Sound towards the Eddystone Lighthouse. The sea state and winds were to increase overnight as the fleet made their way to the…

It’s beginning to look like conditions for this year’s Wolf Rock Race are going to be spectacular!!! So what are you waiting for? This race counts as the Fastnet500 qualifier, which is on in August. Please get your entry in now whilst you are thinking about it and let’s make this a classic race for the…

The OSTAR and TWOSTAR races got off on time on Sunday after enjoying a hearty full English breakfast in the Club. All 5 boats are set to take one of the biggest challenges there is in Oceanic racing. Visibility was a challenge at the start when a ‘monsoon’ like downpour flooded Plymouth Sound on Race…

The 1884 series runs throughout the summer on Wednesday evenings from April 12th until late August. Awards will be given class to winners for the series. The evening series comprises of two races, one windward leeward followed by a longer round the cans race and is aimed at both racers & cruiser racers. All races…

The Royal Western Yacht Club in Plymouth, UK announces the launch of a brand-new around the World yachting event, the WORLDSTAR. This event is open to all solo and double handed boats between 35ft and 60ft that has done a 2000-mile qualification passage in the allotted timeframe. The course is to start from Plymouth Sound…

The 2nd edition of the Plymouth Fastnet 500 takes place on Sunday 13th August. Starting on and finishing from Plymouth Sound, this is a great option to see the Fastnet rock in all its splendour without the logistical headaches before or after the race. Early entry discount is available right up to 1st July and…

The Commodore welcomes the University of Plymouth Yacht Club to the RWYC. Pictured here with their current Commodore, Dominique Garveigh, he said ‘we are delighted to continue our links with the UPYC and we are proud to share our facilities with them’.

13th and 14th of May saw the very first RC900 weekend which co-starred with the 2nd RC1000 weekend of the year. Conditions were challenging with the NW gradient being cancelled out by a steady south-westerly sea breeze on both days. Saturday’s racecourse saw the committee boat sit between New Grounds and Melampus for the first…

On Sunday the 7th of November the PR Systems and B&G Icicle series got under way with fleet of twelve boats being greeted with sunshine and 2kts of variable wind which was surprising as a steady 13 kts was forecast. Race officer Jerry Lock decided on a short delay of 10 minutes under AP, allowing…

As of 0530 this morning, Thursday 8th June; Charlene Howard and her co-skipper Bobby Drummond on board ‘AJ wanderlust’ are the first ever boat to have sailed in the Arctic circle during a Royal Western Yacht Club race or challenge. The Round Iceland Challenge was first introduced as an alternative to the OSTAR or TWOSTAR…

The Original Lonely Rock race was first sailed in 1925, since then the course has enjoyed a very colourful history with some real stand out moments. The first ever boat to win was called ‘Jolie Brise’, stamping her name on yachting history in the process. To this date, 5 boats have won the race outright…

Start Date: Sunday 29th May 2022 THE ROYAL WESTERN YACHT CLUB IS DELIGHTED ANNOUNCE THAT THE ENTRY PROCESS IS NOW OPEN FOR THE RB&I 2022. Following an extensive review of this established race, numerous enhancements are made to embrace the recent surge of interest in short-handed offshore racing. A more balanced course is set, to…

We are very pleased to announce our next RWYC ambassador, Paddy Hutchings. Paddy is a Plymouth sailor currently developing a campaign for the Solitare Du Figaro 2022. This is one of the highest profile one-design race events in Europe. The Solitare Du Figaro has been going since 1970. In the past it has been a…

With the Notice of Race being released on Wednesday 4th August, we have pleasure in announcing the second edition of the RWYC ‘Original Lonely Rock Race’ (OLR2022) in association with the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. The first start of the OLR2022 will be 1400hrs on Sunday 17th July. Following the original ‘Fastnet’ course which starts…

Here at the RWYC we are looking forward to a busy sailing season, with something for everyone. Whilst our Saturday afternoon dinghy series is currently suspended due to Covid restrictions, look below at what is coming up this year:

Mervyn Wheatley has confirmed his entry for the 60th anniversary edition of the Original Singlehanded Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) departing Plymouth for Newport, Rhode Island, on the 10th May, 2020. This race celebrates the anniversary of the first OSTAR sailed in 1960, a race conceived by Cockleshell hero Blondie Hasler and run by the Royal Western…

It is with great pleasure that the Royal Western Yacht Club announces their chosen charity for 2021 & 2022 as ‘The Chestnut Appeal for men’s health’. Covering the Southwest of England, the Chestnut Appeal for men’s health raises funds to provide essential equipment for research and diagnosis, along with raising awareness for men’s cancer. Lesley-Ann…

The RWYC Lonely Rock Race is pleased to announce Spectra Watermakers as our new partner for the Royal Western Yacht Club Lonely Rock Race. Chris Arscott – Commodore of the Royal Western Yacht Club said: “Again, we are very pleased to see a pioneering manufacturer supporting the Lonely Rock Race. We are highly aware of…

Today (Thursday 11th June 2020) we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the start of the first OSTAR race from Plymouth in 1960. Learn more about the history of the OSTAR race.

Six teams competed at the weekend for the University Yacht Club Open Match racing event. Strong winds on Saturday meant the first day was cancelled but Sunday saw a fabulous day of sailing with a real mixture of weather conditions! The event was won by club member Ben Dodwell and his team. Well done Ben!…