Royal Ocean Racing Club
The Royal Ocean Racing Club is a club in London with a further clubhouse and office in Cowes, Isle of Wight. It was established in 1925 as the Ocean Racing Club, as a result of a race to the Fastnet Rock from Cowes, finishing in Plymouth. It received royal approval by King George V in November 1931 since when it has been known as the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The RORC is the principal organiser of offshore yacht races in the United Kingdom, including the Fastnet Race, the RORC Caribbean 600, the RORC Transatlantic Race and  the quadrennial Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race. It was also the organiser of the Admiral's Cup and the Commodores' Cup. RORC was founded to encourage long distance yacht racing and the design, building and navigation of sailing vessels in which speed and seaworthiness are combined. In co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, RORC is responsible for IRC, the principal international handicap system for yacht racing.