Round Britain and Ireland Challenge first start off

by Cailah Leask on 29 Mar 2011 The Sebago Round Britain and Ireland Challenge's first start has kicked off at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA). Forty sailors travelled from all over the UK to take their place on the start line with the stunning Jurassic coast as the backdrop and soaring spring temperatures.

The RBIC provides opportunities for people from all walks of life to race round Great Britain and Ireland or join for a single leg. Crews from all over the UK have been training over weekends since February from the WPNSA so as to prepare themselves for the 2,500 mile passage which is predicted to take 28 days to complete.

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) has formed a new long term partnership with the RBIC supporting this latest yacht racing challenge through hosting training events and providing race management, being the start and finish port for all circumnavigations in the series as well as the chosen final prize giving ceremony location.

Chris Knight, Business Manager, the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy commented, 'It is very inspiring to see the first RBIC underway this month, the preparation and training for this race start since the beginning of the year at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy has been tireless. The WPNSA yacht racing facilities have really been highlighted over this period and we are very much looking forward to being the official start and finish venue of this fresh new big boat racing challenge for the foreseeable future'.

The RBIC also celebrated a new agreement with Sebago, the high quality marine footwear and clothing manufacturer, the morning of the first race start. The challenge is now formally known as ‘the Sebago Round Britain and Ireland Challenge’.

Charlie Walker, Managing Director of RBI Challenge Ltd said, 'this new relationship showcases just how far the RBIC brand has come in around a year. We are thrilled to be working with such a prestigious brand as Sebago and we look forward working together to continue to give our customers yet more superb sailing experiences'.

The RBIC fleet are now hoping for wind speeds to increase as they head towards their first stopover. This is the first of three Sebago Round Britain and Ireland Challenges booked for 2011 that will be taking in nine official Sebado RBIC website