Image: © Rick Tomlinson/RORC
Here is a look behind the scenes and on board as the RORC Griffin Youth Squad compete in the 2024 De Guingand Bowl Race. Charlie Muldoon skippers Griffin 009 and Matt Beecher skippers Griffin 007. Women sailors account for about half of the RORC Griffin Youth Team including Racing Skipper Charlotte Schneider.
“The RORC Griffin Youth Programme gives opportunities for people between 18-30 to get involved in offshore sailing. It is not an easy sport to get involved in, you have to find a crew, a boat and a skipper. What Griffin is trying to do is remove some of those barriers.” Griffin Chair – Jim Driver.
300 young sailors applied for the RORC Griffin Selection weekends and just 20 were chosen to race in brand new Sun Fast 30 ODs chartered by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The Griffin Teams of mixed gender and abilities, race without any mentors on board. Griffin Teams race in the world’s largest offshore racing series; the RORC Season’s Points Championship.
The Griffin Programme is generously supported by RORC Members and commercial sponsors such as North Sails Clothing, boatfolk, Marlow Ropes, Ocean Signal. Obviously, we would encourage more.