Records fall in Round Britain and Ireland Race

It has been a record-breaking edition for the 1880nm Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race which began August 11 in Cowes, UK for the 28 entrants. In the strong winds experienced, three world records are now before the World Speed Sailing Record Council for ratification.

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 in 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.

On August 15, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Volvo Ocean 65, Azzam, skippered by Ian Walker, crossed the finish line off the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes at 22.20.28 BST 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.

Within the Volvo Ocean 65 fleet, finishing in second was Team Campos (skipper: Iker Martinez), followed by Dongfeng Race Team (skipper: Charles Caudrelier), Team Alvimedica (skipper: Charlie Enright), and Team SCA (skipper: Sam Davies).

On August 16, the IMOCO 60 Artemis-Team Endeavour, skippered by Brian Thompson, crossed the finish line at 23.00.54 BST with an elapsed time of 5 days, 14 hours, 00 minutes and 54 seconds, setting a new World Record for Monohulls 60 feet and less. Artemis-Team Endeavour also won the IRC Canting Keel class on corrected time.

On August 17, Jens Kellinghusen’s Ker 51, Varuna crossed the finish line at 12.10.32 BST, and currently holds the IRC overall lead, with a number of yachts still to finish. Eleven teams have dropped out.

Race website – Tracking