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A Game of Two Halves

Race Update: Friday 3 September 2010

It has been over 24 hours since any yacht competing in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race finished. However a goal rush is expected for the second half, with three boats expected in the early hours of tomorrow morning and the majority accounted for by Sunday.

There are still 12 yachts racing in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race but Keith Gibbs' C&C 115, Change of Course, pulled into Dingle on the west coast of Ireland in the early hours of this morning with a broken forestay.

Norddeutsche Vermögen Hamburg finish

Newsflash 12:26:47 2nd September

Eike Holst's Andrews 56, Norddeutsche Vermögen Hamburg finished in an elapsed time of 9 Days - 22:26:47

Artemis Ocean Racing claim overall victory

This morning, RORC Racing Manager, Ian Loffhagen announced;

"Whilst there are still yachts racing in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. The unusual easterly winds are hampering their progress to the finish.

There is no real possibility of a competing yacht eclipsing the corrected time set by Artemis Ocean Racing. Therefore, Artemis Ocean Racing, can claim victory in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race overall under IRC, as well as the course record for an IMOCA 60.

Congratulations to Jonny Malbon and his crew on Artemis Ocean Racing."

Short and Sweet

Morning Report - Thursday 2nd September

Concise 2 wins the Class 40 Division & claims the Round Britain and Ireland record for yachts of up to 40ft.

Last night at 03:32:20 BST, Tony Lawson's Class 40, Concise 2 skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron line to finish the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race. The young crew on Concise 2 had battled headwinds throughout the race. Their elapsed time of 9 Days 13 hours 32 minutes and 20 seconds was a major achievement. Not only did Concise 2 claim the Class 40 Division win, but also a record that has stood for six years. Smashing the record for yachts of up to 40ft by nearly two days. But it didn't start well for Concise 2, as crewman, Tom Dawson explains.

Concise 2 finish

Newsflash 2nd September 03:32:20

Tony Lawson's Class 40, Concise 2, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield finished in an elapsed time of 9 Days - 13:32:20

To win the Class 40 Division and claim the Round Britain and Ireland record for yachts of up to 40ft.

Another Race Record on the Cards

Afternoon Report - Wednesday 1st September

At 1600 BST, Tony Lawson's Class 40 Concise, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield was 62 miles from the finish of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. For Concise, the wind was still on the nose as it has been for much of the race, but an increase in wind speed to 17 knots means it will be a bumpy last few hours for the team, but spirits are high for an earlier finish time.

Tonnerre run out of gas

Morning Report - Wednesday 1st September

At just before 2 a.m. this morning, The British Keelboat Academy's TP52, John Merricks II crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron Line to finish the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. The 14 young crew on board should have taken a bow, but instead they were organising packing up the boat and plan to be back competing in the RORC offshore race to Cherbourg on Friday. Completing this tough and challenging yacht race in a boat that was not constructed for that purpose is some achievement and the John Merricks II crew should be highly regarded for their impeccable boat handling.

Tonnerre de Breskens finish

Newsflash 03:26:55 1st September

Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens finish in an elapsed time of 8 Days - 13:26:55.

Tonnerre de Breskens is currently first in IRC Zero and third in IRC overall.

John Merricks II finish

Newsflash 01:49:23 1st September

British Keelboat Academy's TP52, John Merricks II, finish in an elapsed time of 8 Days - 11:49:23

John Merricks II is second in IRC Super Zero and currently fourth in IRC overall.

Tonnerre Expected Tonight

Afternoon Race Report – Tuesday 31st August

At 1300 BST, Piet Vroon’s Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens is tantalizingly close to an overall victory in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. With 101 miles to go, Tonnerre de Breskens could well make it to the Royal Yacht Squadron Line before 01:54:35 tomorrow morning. None of the other boats still racing have a real chance of beating them on corrected time.

The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is now well into the eighth day. The crew on the racing yachts will have become totally accustomed to life on board. The yacht and its contents is all they have. For days now they have been confined to their yachts, matters that have no real importance in normal life become desperately important, even losing a hat or a glove can have a major effect on them. For those yachts out off the west coast of Ireland, they may not have seen land or even another ship for days. To the crew racing in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, the yacht has become their own little world.

Desperately close

Morning Race Report - Tuesday 31 August

There where tense moments last night, as Simonas Steponavicius' Volvo 60, Ambersail made a dash for the finish line of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. They were desperately close to taking the overall lead on handicap. The Lithuanian Volvo 60 passed St. Catherine's Point on the south side of the Isle of Wight just before midnight, averaging 13 knots. They knew that if they could keep up that speed, they were going to take the overall lead. Turning downwind into the Solent at Bembridge Ledge, the breeze started to fade a little and with that their hopes of an overall win. But the Lithuanian team has performed magnificently in a yacht that is ten years old. The team all sail at Klaipeda, on the Baltic Sea. The yacht was purchased in 2009, to commemorate a thousand years of Lithuanian history. The crew sailed the boat in nine legs around the world and the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland has been something of a reunion for the crew. No doubt they will have an extensive celebration in Cowes today but they will s hortly be sailing the boat down to Malta to compete in the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

At 0700 BST, Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens was 142 miles from the finish, going upwind at eight and a half knots. If they can keep up that pace, they should finish the race by 0100 tomorrow morning. They will be hoping that the breeze will hold out during the day. For the moment they are on course to eclipse Artemis Ocean Racing's corrected time and take the overall lead on handicap in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, but it is going to be very close.