73 boats for RORC North Sea Race at Royal Harwich Yacht Club

 The Royal Ocean Racing Club's 2023 North Sea Race, hosted by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, has attracted 73 boats for the start on Friday 19 May.

The North Sea Race is preceded by the 120nm Vuurschepen Race to Harwich, which started from Scheveningen on Tuesday 16 May.

The 180nm race across the North Sea meanders around the Galloper wind farm before heading north to Smith's Knoll Buoy and across to the famous sailing city of the Hague and the Yacht Club Scheveningen. The majority of the entries come from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with over 350 sailors taking part that include crew from Belgium, Germany, Israel, and the United States of America.

At the lively prize-giving hosted by the Yacht Club Scheveningen on Sunday 21 May, competitors can win a number of prestigious trophies including the Goeree Challenge Cup for IRC Overall. The Royal Ocean Racing Club has organised races in the North Sea since 1931.

The RORC North Sea Race is part of the 2023 RORC Season's Points Championship, the world's largest offshore racing series. The ten-month series comprises of 15 testing offshore races. Over 600 international teams are expected to compete this year. Every race had its own famous prize for the overall winner after IRC time correction with more coveted trophies for class honours.