Ranked alongside other offshore races such as the Fastnet, the Sydney Hobart, and the Newport Bermuda Race the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race never fails to disappoint and this year will be no different. Every two years, some of the best racing yachts from around the world congregate in Wicklow to compete in Ireland's premier offshore race.
When the entries closed last Saturday, forty yachts had entered, these include some of the newest and fastest racing yachts gracing our waters at the moment. The most famous of which is the 100ft super maxi, Leopard.
In the last week, with a top speed of 37.4 knots, they smashed the transatlantic speed record shaving eight hours off the current time to claim their second world record in two years.
Alongisde her, also looking to break the record held by Jeep Cherokee will be a Russian Volvo 70, Alburn a Volvo 60, Lee Overlay Partners a Cookson 50 and the brand new IRC 63, Alegre, designed by Wicklow based Mark Mills.
As usual this year sees an impressive line up in the double handed fleet with eleven crews entered so far. These include 1996 winner, Michael Boyd, sailing again with Niall Dowling on Slingshot. They will face some tough opposition in the shape of Glen Ward and internationally acclaimed French sailor Marie Hercelin on the smallest boat in the fleet a Ker 30.9. Alongside these boats and the other crews we see the new Class 40, Gusilliam 52, sailed by Mark Wynne-Smith.
Again in this fleet there are some other recognizable name and faces. Blackjack sailed by Darren & Clifford Nicholson is back again as is Laurent & Bernard Gouy on their new Kerr 39 Inismor.
This race doesn’t just attract some of the best international sailors around it also boasts many ‘local’ boats from across the island. Defending her title we see Cavatina back once again along with Arklow boat, Aquelina, Matt Davies on his Corby 41 from Skerries and Whitetiger from Kinsale.
With such a mixture of boats this will definitely bode for an exciting start line and race. However, the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race is not only about the intense offshore race; there is also an extensive social event for all the crew and spectators. The party kicks off in Wicklow on Wednesday the 18th and carries the whole way to the start and after.
For more information about the race and the social calendar please go to our website www.roundirelandyachtrace.ie.
