New record for the Plymouth Round Iceland Challenge

The Plymouth - Round Iceland Challenge world record attempt © Royal Western Yacht Club of England

The Plymouth - Round Iceland Challenge world record attempt © Royal Western Yacht Club of England

1200hrs on Sunday June 1st was the start time for this season's attempt on the Round Iceland record.

Whilst also acting as a qualifier for the World Star 2026, Nicolas Manthos took on the challenge of beating the previous record of 39 days 10 hours and 43 minutes which was set by 'AJ Wanderlust', sailed by Charlene Howard and Bobby Drummond in 2023.

As Nicolas Manthos prepared for the start in his Class40 'Cheekytatoo' the main halyard inner core separated from the outer sleeve, causing a slight delay in setting up but nevertheless he made the start on time and set off out of Plymouth Sound under 1 reef and code 1 headsail at around 14 knots in what was a brisk 22-25knot breeze from the Southwest.

With just I instruction for the race, leave Iceland to Starboard, Manthos headed down the coast of Cornwall and onwards leaving the Isles of Scilly to Starboard with the aim of missing a depression Northwest of Ireland. At this time the routing had 'Cheekytatoo' heading up the Irish Sea but this was plagued with potential danger so the safer route of the West coast was taken.

Over the next few days Manthos would encounter 50-60 knot winds and would be close hauled for the entire week as he headed towards the Southwest coast of Iceland.

10 days into the challenge and Manthos was around the Northwest tip of Iceland. This would become a battle against the icecaps for the previous challenger, which would take them over 2 1/2 days to find a way through and south of the Ice flows. For Manthos there was no ice to be seen and so the leg along the Northern most part of the course which would take him into the Arctic Circle was a much cleaner quicker one.

Manthos eventually was able to turn South just after 1900hrs on the 11th June. By not the routing had taken another remarkable turn and was suggesting a route down the East coast of the UK. This just goes to show the marginal differences that can be calculated and decisions that need to be made when sailing in freezing temperatures and still over 1300 miles from the finish.

5 days later and Manthos was passing the Fastnet Rock, that famous landmark to many a sailor in the Fastnet race. So far so good and the record was well in sight. Indeed for the next few days Manthos reported perfect sailing conditions as he enjoyed temperatures into the mid 20's and a 15 to 20 knot breeze pushing him under Asymmetric and full main towards the finish line.

Tuesday 17th June at 2230hrs the RWYC rib spotted 'Cheekytatoo' off Rame Head and escorted her and her skipper into the finish line in great shape, and finishing in a new record time of 16 days 12 hours and 14 minutes. Not only a new Solo World Record but smashing the outright record by over 22 days.

So the challenge is set...