Wind Farms, Whiskers, Winning Moves: North Sea Race delivers offshore thriller
Image: Richard Matthews' Carkeek 52 Oystercatcher XXXV © Paul Wyeth/RORC
RORC North Sea Race - Start: 30 May 2025 - Course: Harwich – Scheveningen Approx. 157nm
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, in association with the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association, the Yacht Club Scheveningen and Foundation North Sea Regatta.
The 2025 North Sea Race produced a thrilling finish for the overall win under IRC. After time correction, Rob Craigie’s Sun Fast 3600 Bellino, racing double-handed with co-skipper RORC Commodore Deb Fish, was the winner by just 53 seconds after 22 hours of racing.
“We were absolutely flat out from the start,” commented Deb Fish. “It was windy—20 knots at the gun—and we knew Smith’s Knoll could be a tidal gate. So we went hell for leather to make it in time. The wind held better than forecast, which was our stroke of luck. If we hadn’t made it before the tide turned, it would have been a big boat race. But we got through, and that opened the door for us.”
“One of the key tactical decisions was going east of the new wind farm,” she adds. “Some well-sailed boats we really respect went the other way, and it cost them dearly. That choice probably won us hours.”
“Rob Craigie agrees: “After Smith’s Knoll, Jetpack was ¾ of a mile ahead. Jetpack started 10 minutes before us but rated lower than us—we thought we’d lost it. But we stuck to our plan, worked hard, and clawed it back. When we finished, we knew we’d won our class and the double-handed division, but not the overall. That was a huge surprise. We just thought we were going out for a good yacht race!”.
As for what keeps the North Sea Race going after 80 years, Deb sums it up perfectly: “It’s a beautiful, complex course with real tactical challenges and brilliant camaraderie—especially among the Dutch and East Coast fleets. Great racing, great company, and a proper offshore test. What’s not to love?”
Second by the narrowest of margins was Diederik Forma’s JPK 1030 Jetpack, also racing double-handed with Martijn Graafmans, representing the Jachtclub Scheveningen.
Third place overall went to one of the oldest boats in the race with the youngest crew; Paddy Moriarty’s 1972 Swan 44 Astrid was also the winner of IRC Four.
“Winning our class in the North Sea Race was a huge achievement—especially as it was our first race of the season,” says 21-year-old skipper Paddy Moriarty. “It still hasn’t quite sunk in. Astrid, our 1972 Swan 44, was perfect for the conditions—heavy enough to power through the breeze at the start, and she loved the light wind sections later on. The crew, all in their twenties apart from my dad, were incredible. Everyone brought so much energy and drive, and as mostly ex-dinghy sailors, they were constantly pushing the boat. We worked really well together.”
“One of the big tactical calls was going north at the final gate—we gained massively there. We’re now aiming to qualify for the Rolex Fastnet Race, and this result gives us great momentum. Offshore racing has such a great blend of tactics, teamwork, and endurance—it’s what I love, and I can’t wait to see what we achieve next.”
The 157-mile race was held in a variety of conditions from light airs to strong wind at every point of sail. Richard Matthews has been a champion of the North Sea Race for decades and his Carkeek 52 Oystercatcher XXXV took Line Honours in an elapsed time of 18 Hours 33 Mins and 55 Secs. Second to cross the line, winning IRC Zero after time correction, was the Ker 46 ROST Van Uden, skippered by Gerd-Jan Poortman.
IRC One
Gery Trentesaux’s Ker 43 Long Courrier is the provisional winner of IRC One, following on from the team’s overall win in the Myth of Malham Race. Harry Rek’s Dehler 41 Barracuda is ranked second by less than seven minutes after IRC time correction. Hugo Gommers Landmark 43 Olympix is ranked third.
IRC Two
Simon Farren’s A40 Warrior, co-skippered by Ben Peter, corrected out to win the class from 40 Love, Edward Harvey’s First 40. In third was Frans van Cappelle & Michelle Witsenburg’s J/122 Moana.
In IRC Three and IRC Two-Handed Bellino was first with Jetpack second. Simon Toms’ Sun Fast 3300, skippered by Josh Dawson, was third in IRC Three. In IRC Two Handed, Wim van Slooten’s J/109 Firestorm, racing with Jochem Nonhebel completed the podium.
IRC Four was won by the classic Swan Astrid with Firestorm second. The final podium place went to Simeon Tienpoint’s J/35 Fever.
The RORC Season’s Points Championship – the world’s largest offshore racing series, continues with the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race from Ireland’s Capital Dublin to Dingle County Kerry, on the wild West Coast of the “emerald isle”. The 320-mile biennial race is organised by the National Yacht Club.
2025: A Historic Year for the RORC
2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Ocean Racing Club—a century of dedication to offshore racing. This season includes landmark events such as the West-East Transatlantic Race, the Rolex Fastnet Race, and the return of the Admiral’s Cup.