Round Britain & Ireland Two-Handed Race to start from Plymouth on Sunday
by Vianney Searle 2 Jun 2018 12:18 PDT
3 June 2018
The 72ft Gaff Pilot Cutter Pegasus will be start boat for the Round Britain and Ireland Two-Handed Race 2018 © The Island Trust
The Royal Western Yacht Club's Round Britain and Ireland Two Handed Race is starting in Plymouth Sound on Sunday 3rd June 2018 at 1200. The race comprises of mono and multi-hulls ranging from 33ft to 50ft.
It will be the 14th running of the legendary four yearly yacht race which was established in 1966 by the Cockleshell hero Major Blondie Hasler. The race comprises of five legs with four 48hr 'Stop Overs' at Kinsale, Castlebay (Barra), Lerwick and Lowestoft. It is approximately 2000 miles sailed clockwise around the British Isles and Ireland leaving all islands and rocks to starboard. The legs are relatively short stages of three or four days.
Currently the race record stands at fifteen days and seven hours but sailors should allow about twenty three days to complete the event, including the four forty eight hour stopovers. Previous winners include Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, Chay Blyth, Rob James, Tony Bullimore and Steve Fossett.
The RWYC has been kindly given the use of The Island Trust's yacht PEGASUS, a 72ft Gaff Pilot Cutter, as the Start Boat and the Race will be started by Father Sam Philpott MBE. Fr Sam has been at the forefront of pioneering projects in Plymouth including the Ship Homeless Hostel, Plymouth Mediation and The Millfields Economic Development Trust of which he is Chairman.
Plymouth is a fantastic place for both national and international sailing competitions and it would be great if Plymouth could come either to the Hoe, Jennycliff, or even get out on the water to give the competitors a send off to remember.