THE Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight and London, has launched the 2025 Griffin Offshore Pathway programme, to support young sailors in offshore sailing.

This new initiative builds on the success of the Griffin24 scheme, with the aim of trying to provide more opportunities for sailors of varying abilities.

It will include three fully-crewed squads competing in the RORC Season's Points Championship and various JOG races.

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In addition, sailors will gain offshore experience racing one-design boats.

RORC plans to enter a team in the Tour Voile in France, and strengthen ties with the Nastro Rosa Series in Italy.

This expansion aims to give sailors more chances to compete double-handed.

Selection took place on The Solent recently (pictured).

With Maggie Adamson and Cal Finlayson winning this year’s Offshore Double Handed World Championship, RORC hopes to nurture more world champions, especially in 2025, in what will be the club’s centenary year.

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Hugh Brayshaw, the programme's lead coach, brings experience from offshore racing and the 470 dinghy class.

He said: "I am thrilled to be involved in this exciting programme. I look forward to helping these talented sailors take their sailing to another level."

Sailors aged 18-30, as of January 1 next year, are invited to a Zoom webinar on Tuesday (October 29).

Jim Driver, chair of Griffin, said: "We have learned a lot from the first year of our refreshed Griffin project, and we have put those lessons into our planning for 2025 and beyond."

Successful applicants will attend a selection weekend from January 10 to 12.