Volvo Ocean racers ignite afterburners in Round Britain Race
by Richard Gladwell on 24 Aug 2010
Telefonica Blue at the start of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Rick Tomlinson Groupama
http://www.rick-tomlinson.com/
The sailing world got its first taste of what is to come in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race when the SevenStar Round Britain and Ireland race got underway off Cowes, yesterday.
After a course change to avoid a pending weather bomb off Ireland later in the week, the fleet got off to a fast start in an easterly direction.
Leading the way were the two Volvo Ocean Racers, Telefonica Azul and Groupama, delayed at the start by some minor hull damage.
Top international photographer Rick Tomlinson was on hand to catch the action
From Volvo Ocean Race:
At the Skipper's Briefing for the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland in Cowes, Isle of Wight, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) announced a dramatic change in the course of the race.
The international fleet will now race around the Britain and Ireland counterclockwise, to avoid what looks to be a dangerous weather system predicted to hit the western coast of Ireland on Thursday 26 August. This last minute change will hopefully reduce the possible damage the storm will have on the competing yachts.
'The reason for changing the course is consideration for all the competitors', stated Andrew McIrvine, Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.
'We have been monitoring the weather models for the last few days and they are all in agreement that a deep depression will be arriving to the west of Ireland at the same time as most of the fleet will be there.'
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