The countdown is on. In less than eight months the prestigious Admiral’s Cup, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), will return to the spotlight.

Teams from across the globe are rallying their finest talent, knowing that meticulous planning and strategic preparation are the keys to gaining the competitive edge in this legendary event.

Teams are already gearing up, with many planning to start training and racing in the Solent as early as April 2025. This early preparation sets the stage for a gathering of phenomenal boats and world-class competition in UK waters. The Royal Ocean Racing Club has received official entries from prestigious clubs from around the world, with additional teams expected to be announced in the coming months.

Elite Racing Powerhouses

Representing: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) – defenders of the America’s Cup – will be the overall 2023 Rolex Fastnet Winner Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro, and James Murray’s GP42 Callisto (ex-Dark ‘N’ Stormy).

Gillian Williams, Commodore of RNZYS, commented: “This event is a hallmark of international sailing and we are confident that our team’s skill and determination will serve them well on the racetrack and make our members proud.”

James Murray, skipper of Callisto confirms that Callisto is scheduled to arrive in the Solent in April 2025 and intends to race under the burgee of the RNZYS for the 230-mile Myth of Malham Race in May, and inshore for the GBR IRC National Championships held in Cowes in June.

“The Admiral’s Cup is a legendary event in offshore sailing circles,” commented James Murray. “Combining inshore, coastal and offshore racing disciplines, the format promises a tremendous test of boat, crew and seamanship alike. When we heard the RORC was bringing back the Admiral’s Cup after nearly a quarter-century hiatus, it became the principal focus of our programme for 2025.”

Representing: Royal Ocean Racing Club

As previously reported, racing under the Royal Ocean Racing Club burgee as RORC Red will be James Neville’s Carkeek 45 Ino Noir and Per Roman’s JPK 1180 Garm. The highly regarded pairing is likely to have one of the lowest IRC Rating in both Admiral’s Cup IRC Classes, which could be a distinct advantage in certain weather conditions.

Botin 52 Caro – photo © Paul Wyeth

Racing for the Royal Ocean Racing Club as Team RORC White are two established winning boats under new ownership; Jon Desmond’s PAC52 Final Final (RORC Transatlantic Race champion as Warrior Won), and Chris Frost’s Carkeek 42 Amp-Lifi (FAST40+ champion as Girls on Film).

Final Final’s owner Jon Desmond confirms that the boat’s scheduled lead-up to the Admiral’s Cup will be the 2025 RORC Caribbean 600 and the West-East Transatlantic Race in June.

“In the hope that the Admiral’s Cup will become the same magnitude of an event as it was previously, it will be phenomenal to be part of the start of this reincarnation,” commented Jon Desmond. “Representing RORC along with our team-mate Amp-Lifi is a very exciting prospect for 2025 and beyond,” concluded Desmond.

Representing: Yacht Club de France

Representing the Yacht Club de France, Eric de Turckheim’s NM54 Teasing Machine and Philippe Frantz’s NM43 Albator is a formidable French team with a proven track record of victories in top level racing. Teasing Machine has won the RORC Transatlantic Race twice overall under IRC, as well as the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Representing: New York Yacht Club

Racing for the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) will be Botin 56 Black Pearl, skippered by Stefan Jentzsch with team mate Ker 43 Abracadabra, skippered by father and son duo Donald Thinschmidt Jr & Snr.

Black Pearl’s project manager and navigator is Marc Lagesse, who confirms that the crew has a blend of ocean racing, America’s Cup and Olympic racing sailors with nationalities from Germany, Italy, England, Ireland and South Africa.

“In the lead up to the Admiral’s Cup, Black Pearl intends to take part in all appropriate RORC offshore races and the inshore GBR IRC Nationals. The Admiral’s Cup was the pinnacle of offshore racing when we were growing up,” commented Lagesse. “Having the opportunity to compete for this iconic trophy is an honour and a privilege. We are very excited to team up with Don Thinschmidt on Abracadabra and are looking forward to representing the NYYC,” concluded Lagesse.

Past, Present and Future – Youth in the Admiral’s Cup

Representing: Royal Maas Yacht Club

The Dutch Offshore Sailing Team is composed of Ker 46 ROST Van Uden, skippered by Gerd-Jan Poortman and the Baraka Family’s Ker 43 Baraka GP. Poortman, who was part of the victorious Dutch team for the 1999 Admiral’s Cup, confirms that the 2025 team schedule includes the RORC Easter Challenge, the GBR IRC Nationals, the Myth of Malham Race, the North Sea Regatta, including the Vuurschepen Race, and the North Sea Race.

“As always, it will be a talented youth team on Van Uden from the Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team,” confirmed Poortman. “Both crews on Baraka and Van Uden are really excited about the Admiral’s Cup. The North of Europe is really in need of such a high level offshore grand prix event.”

Representing: Bayersiche Yacht-Club

Racing for the Bayersiche Yachtclub will be Carl-Peter Forster’s TP52 Red Bandit and Dirk Clasen’s Humphreys 39 Ginkgo. Red Bandit won the 2024 Rolex Middle Sea Race overall under IRC and Gingko was third in class for the 2024 Roschier Baltic Sea Race.

Red Bandit is already in the Solent and intends to race in the RORC Easter Challenge, the Cervantes Trophy, the Myth of Malham, the GBR IRC Nationals and the Morgan Cup.

“It is exciting to sail such a prestigious event in the waters in which yacht sailing was born,” commented Red Bandit’s Carl-Peter Forster. “‘Our whole team of young sailors from our Bavarian lake is super excited and is very much looking forward to sailing against some of the best offshore sailing teams in the world – we hope the water won’t be too cold!” smiled Forster.

Also from Germany, TP52 Imagine owned by the Streckenbach family, and Walter Watermann’s GP42 X-Day will be racing as a team of primarily youth sailors. X-Day skipper Lars Hueckstaedt confirms that the team will be in action for the Easter Challenge in April 2025, followed by a programme of races.

“Germany has a big heritage in the Admiral’s Cup,” commented Lars Hueckstaedt. “Every sailor growing up in Germany has heard about the ‘golden times’ of the Admiral’s Cup. It would just be a shame to not compete and just watch the racing on the media.”

Alongside a full social programme for the RORC centenary celebration’s, the 2025 Admiral’s Cup will be based at the completely re-modernised RORC Cowes Clubhouse. The inshore and offshore race courses will feature the Solent, the English Channel and the final climax – the Rolex Fastnet Race.

Entry list here

For more information about the 2025 Admiral’s Cup: admiralscup.rorc.org

by Louay Habib / RORC