Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing sets new Round Britain and Ireland Race record

Cowes, UK (August 15, 2014) – Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Volvo Ocean 65, Azzam, skippered by Ian Walker, crossed the finish line of the 1880nm Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race off the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes at 22.20.28 BST today with an elapsed time of 4 days, 13 hours, 10 minutes, 28 seconds.

This breaks the previous World Record and Race Record for a monohull set by Volvo 70 Groupama, in 2010, by 1 day, 08 hours, 16 minutes and 27 seconds. Azzam’s record is subject to ratification by the World Speed Sailing Record Council.

This is the second World Record broken during the 2014 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

On August 14, Sidney Gavignet and the crew of the MOD70 trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail eclipsed the outright speed record, crossing the finish line off the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, at 12.42.36 BST, setting an elapsed time of 3 days, 3 hours, 32 minutes, 36 seconds. This breaks the previous World Record for a multihull held by 140-foot Banque Populaire 5 in 2011, by 16 minutes, 38 seconds (subject to ratification by the World Speed Sailing Record Council).

Race website – Tracking