The Volvo Open 70, Telefonica Azul, is scorching along at a blistering speed. After the first 24 hours of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, the Spanish yacht has covered 440 miles of the 1,800 mile course.
Hurtling along behind them is Groupama and they are pushing hard. If anything the wind speed is due to increase during the night. The crews on board will be soaking wet and beginning to feel the effects of fatigue. Food will only be fuel and boat speed will be their primary concern.
Onboard Groupama in the North Sea Photo Credit Yann Riou Team Groupama
To put this amazing 24 hour run into context, the two rocket ships are now north of Edinburgh, and could well be north of mainland Scotland by tomorrow morning!
Several hours behind the two front runners, Johnny Malbon and his crew on IMOCA 60, Artemis, are reveling in the fast reaching conditions.
The overall leader on handicap is the RYA Keelboat Academy’s TP52, John Merricks II. The average age of the team is under 24 and they have been training hard all season, as skipper Luke McArthy explains; “It is a tough call to take on this course in a TP52, but this team has been working hard and should we have any problems we know how to fix just about anything. It is very wet, even down below, but we have made some modifications to the bulkheads, so that John Merricks II is a bit more user-friendly offshore.”
After 24 hours, Piet Vroon’s Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens, leads Class Zero. Tonnerre de Breskens loves heavy weather and is absolutely flying up the North Sea. They are now north of Vroon’s homeland, Holland. Vroon claims that after a lifetime of racing, including 25 Fastnets as skipper, this race will be his swan-song. But after this incredible ride, he might just change his mind.
In IRC One, Philippe Falle’s Reflex 38, Visit Malta Puma, are first in class after 24 hours. Averaging over nine knots, the sailing school team is just north of Norwich, having covered 225 miles of the course – astounding for a boat of only 38 feet.
However, only a few miles astern are their team mates, Peter Robson’s First 40.7, Playing Around Logic, are leading Class IRC Two after 24 hours, a great recovery after a drama the start when a crew member had to climb the rig in very difficult conditions. They have been enjoying champagne surfing conditions, surfing at over 14 knots.
Tonight before the sun sets, the crews taking part in this challenging race, will be using the last of the light to check lines and equipment on deck, before settling into their night watches. The wind is forecast to change to a more northwesterly direction, heading the fleet and the sea state may well become rough. It could well be a bumpy night in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race.
Louay Habib
Fair Do’s VII & Relentless on Incisor retire
In further news, Sailing yacht Fair Do’s VII (GBR4601L) and Relentless on Incisor (GBR8248) have retired from the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Both retirements are due to equipment failure and there are no reports of any injuries to crew on board either yacht.
Fair Do’s VII has developed a steering problem and Relentless on Incisor a problem with the communication system.
