2026 RORC Round Britain & Ireland Race: the next generation steps up
by Louay Habib / RORC 14 Jul 07:13 PDT
9 August 2026
The Round Britain & Ireland Race appeals to younger competitors seeking adventure, challenge and opportunity in the RORC's 1800nm non-stop offshore race © James Tomlinson / RORC
With less than a month before the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Round Britain and Ireland Race (start Sunday 9 August), the fleet is taking shape. So far, 30 teams from 11 nations and over 140 sailors will take on the 1800nm non-stop race.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant, marking the 50th anniversary of the race.
The teams will be embarking on one of offshore sailing's greatest challenges. Yet behind every boat lies a story of ambition and adventure. Widely regarded as one of the toughest pro-am offshore races in the world, the RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race is far more than a contest of speed. Competitors face up to the complexity and endurance created by strong tides, multifaceted navigation, unpredictable weather and in some cases over two weeks at sea. Racing in some of the most remote and notorious waters in Europe is an enormous challenge just to finish.
The 2026 fleet highlights the growing strength of offshore sailing's next generation racing with RORC. Alongside seasoned veterans, almost a third of the sailors entered are in their teens, twenties and early thirties, reflecting the continued appeal of long-distance offshore racing to younger competitors seeking adventure, challenge and opportunity.
Father and daughter take on their biggest offshore challenge
One of the most compelling human-interest stories in this year's fleet belongs to Mojo, the J/105 being raced double-handed by Richard Breese and his 19-year-old daughter Emma Breese, a past British National Junior Optimist Champion.
Richard and Emma Breese have already completed the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race aboard Mojo double-handed and this year Emma is part of the RORC Griffin Pathway, racing with the 'Cherbourg Team' in her first year at university. For both Richard and Emma Breese, the major progression to the 1800NM Round Britain and Ireland Race is a significant one. Emma only started offshore racing last year and the Round Britain and Ireland Race is the longest race that either Richard or Emma have ever done.
"The Round Britain and Ireland Race feels like a huge step up and that's exactly what makes it so exciting," commented Emma Breese. "Taking on a challenge of this scale with my dad is something I never imagined doing so soon. He taught me to sail when I was seven years old and we still learn from each other every time we go offshore. His experience comes from years of ocean racing, while I've come through dinghy sailing and more recently the RORC Griffin Pathway, so I think our different backgrounds work well together.
"Away from sailing, I'm in my first year studying medicine at Cardiff University and I'm constantly surprised by how many similarities there are between the two. Teamwork, communication, problem-solving and always looking for ways to improve are just as important offshore as they are in medicine. Offshore racing has taught me a lot about resilience and self-belief. When I first started, I found the sleep deprivation and physical demands incredibly challenging, but I've learned that I'm capable of much more than I thought, while also understanding when to rest and recover.
"I know a lot of my friends think sailing around Britain and Ireland non-stop sounds completely crazy, especially the sailing through the night and living on freeze-dried food, but they'll be following the race and tracking our progress. For me, the opportunity to take on such an iconic race at this stage of my sailing career is hugely motivating. Whatever happens, I know I'll learn an enormous amount from the experience and hopefully take another big step forward as an offshore sailor."
From one generation of offshore sailors to the next
The father-and-daughter partnership of Richard and Emma follows in the wake of Jim and Ellie Driver, who raced double-handed in the 2022 Round Britain and Ireland Race, finishing sixth in under 15 days. Ellie Driver was about the same age as Emma Breese is today and Ellie has now gone on to compete in the last two editions of La Solitaire du Figaro. Ellie and Emma Breese are well acquainted as Emma has sailed with Ellie delivering her Figaro 3 to race start locations.
"Racing around Britain and Ireland with my dad was incredibly special. We went into it very green," smiled Ellie Driver. "We had completed a Fastnet, but four days at sea is very different from 15 days. It taught me that this race is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to finish as strongly as you start. The Round Britain and Ireland is the Fastnet Race 10 times over.
"The biggest lesson is managing sleep, food and energy. Double-handed, you have to look after each other and take every opportunity to recover. There will be difficult moments, but there are also so many chances to come back. The weather changes, the tide changes and the race can turn again, so you have to stay positive.
"For me, the race confirmed how much I love being at sea and there is something very pure about that. It also made me realise that this was something I wanted to pursue professionally rather than a hobby.
"My advice to Emma would be enjoy the experience and remember that one bad day does not define the race. It may also help her decide whether offshore sailing is a passion she wants to take much further."
Griffin's next generation takes on the ultimate test
The youthful profile of the fleet is further illustrated by the RORC Griffin Youth Pathway Team racing the Sun Fast 3600 RORC Griffin. The campaign represents one of the most exciting development programmes in offshore racing.
The Griffin Fund, established in 1947 by the Royal Ocean Racing Clubwas created to support young sailors and encourage participation in offshore racing. Nearly 80 years later, the programme continues to provide talented young sailors with opportunities to progress within the sport. Over 100 young sailors are part of the 2026 Griffin Pathwayand the crew of eight racing on RORC Griffin for the Round Britain and Ireland Race are all 18-30 years of age, including Eimer McMorrow-Moriarty, who brings a special connection to the race. The 22-year-old from Fenit, County Kerry, will race past the West Coast of Ireland that inspired her lifelong passion for the sea.
"I feel super proud to be not only Irish, but an Irish girl as well," enthused Eimer McMorrow-Moriarty. "It will be really special to race on RORC Griffin past the coastline of Kerry and the West Coast of Ireland that I call home. The Round Britain and Ireland Race is the biggest challenge I've ever taken on and I'm incredibly grateful to be doing it with the RORC Griffin team."
A race like no other
Organised every four years by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race is one of the most demanding in offshore sailing. Starting from Cowes, the fleet races 1800 nautical miles around Britain and Ireland, passing famous landmarks before returning to the Solent. As the fleet departs Cowes on 9 August, it will showcase not only the very best of offshore racing, but also the future of the sport.
Entry list here
For more information please go to: www.roundbritainandireland.rorc.org