International teams on board for Round Ireland
FIFTY TEAMS SIGNED UP FORRACEWHICHLEAVES WICKLOW ON JUNE 30
CREWS from Britain, France, Norway, Finland, the United States and, of course, Ireland will be setting a course for Wicklow town ahead of the start of the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race 2018.
Over 50 entries have already been received and organisers Wicklow Sailing Club are hopeful that the 2016 record entry of 69 boats will be matched this year.
Notable entries for the 704 nautical-mile race, which begins on June 30, include Stephen O’Flaherty’s Soufriere, which featured in the 2006 James Bond movie ‘Casino Royale’, and Richard Loftus’s classic Swan 65 Desperado of Cowes, which will be the largest boat in the race.
The Volvo Round Ireland was officially launched last Wednesday night at the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. Several crews entered this year are from sailing schools based along the coast, many of whom are new recruits to the sport.
Commodore Michael Boyd from County Meath, the 1996 winner, was in attendance and will be racing again this year.
He said: ‘ This is a very attractive race for Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) sailors, not just because it’s an attractive course but also it earns bonus points in our annual series and we are delighted to see so many overseas entries for 2018.
‘Every race is different and you never know until you’re back in the clubhouse just how you’ve done – there are very few double-winners.’
Peter Wilson managed just that feat – winning the 1994 race on Bridgestone and returning to win the 1998 race onboard Colm Barrington’s Jeep Cherokee. He spoke of the range of emotions the competitors will find themselves facing.
‘ The highs would be going up the west coast of Ireland in 40 knots of wind for 200 miles in 1994, a sleigh-ride that will stick in mind for the rest of my life.
‘Wind, or rather the lack of it, was a low point in 1996 on Bootlegger and losing the race after getting becalmed for five hours off Greystones and obliged to anchor to stem the flood tide within sight of the finish.’
Justin Slattery from Carrickfergus will also be making a return appearance having acted as navigator on the 2004 winner Calyx Voice ad Data. He will be amongst a pro line-up for Niall Dowling on Baraka GP, one of the candidates for this year’s overall race win.
The 2016 winner was Mike Slade in ICAP Leopard 3 with a record-breaking time.
As always, there will be a great buzz around Wicklow town in the days leading up to the 2018 race and the start will coincide with the popular Taste of Wicklow festival, which takes place on the same weekend.