Volvo Round Ireland 2018
- June 28, 2018
The Volvo Round Ireland is a rigorous 704 mile race that sets off from, and returns to, Wicklow Harbour, home of the Wicklow Sailing Club. The race organisers, an understated sailing club nestled in Wicklow’s Old Pier, won “Club of the Year” for organising the Round Ireland Rally in 1979 - and the WSC has never looked back since. The biennial race attracts a wide selection of boats from all over the world, while the WSC is happily catapulted into the international racing limelight.
The course is straightforward - this year’s 56 teams circle Ireland clockwise, leaving both the mainland and its lovely islands to starboard. The race begins with a technical run down along the usually quiet eastern Irish coast. One turn to starboard later, teams reach Fastnet Rock where the prevalent southwestern winds help boats charge up to the North Channel at top speed. In the last leg of the race, boats race south through calmer waters once more, returning to Wicklow harbour.
This year’s entrants include the girl-powered 10.02 meter Pyxis skippered by Kirsteen Donaldson, the vintage Shepherd 43 Classic Maybird skippered by Darryl Hughes, and the Multi 50 Trilogic racing trimaran skippered by Hugo Karlsson-Smythe.
Complementing the Round Ireland Yacht race is a series of events taking place at the WSC during the week of June 28th - July 6th. July 30th is a Family Fun Day at the Black castle, complete with a food festival, fitness, climbing and child friendly events.
We wish everyone in the Volvo Round Ireland yacht race safe travels - YB Tracking is with them every step of the way!
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Photos: Volvo Round Ireland Race Gallery
