#routedesprinces – A fleet of some of the fastest sailing craft in the world will make an attempt on the Round Ireland Speed Sailing Record next month.
The giant 70-foot Route Des Princes multihulls which race to Dun Laoghaire (June 20-23) in a stage of their innovative Round Europe race will now also take in a Round Ireland speed challenge when the fleet departs Dublin Bay on June 24th.
Irish World speed sailing commissioner Chris Moore confirmed the bid for the prestigious National Yacht Club trophy and the World Speed sailing record last night.
'Sylvie Viant of the race organisers has confirmed that the boats will compete for both the WSSR record, and also the National Yacht Club's own "Round Ireland" record, to beat Lakota's time in September 1993 of 1 day, 20 hours and 42m', Moore told Afloat.ie
Speed sailing fans will recall Damian Foxall's aborted bid in March when the giant Omansail MOD trimaran came to break the record but was beaten back by strong winds. At that time the Kerry Round the world race winner promised to return and this June (if the weather gods permit) it looks like Foxall will make good on his commitment to challenge the 20–year–old record set by the late adventurer Steve Fossett.
It is understood the fleet of six or seven multis will depart the bay on Monday 24th June but instead of heading directly to Plymouth on the next leg of Route Des Princes they will take in a north or southabout circuit of Ireland as part of the course. The record times will be taken at the Kish lighthouse at the entrance to the bay.
In Early Sept 1993, the 60ft. trimaran 'Lakota' shattered the previous record for the fastest circumnavigation of Ireland by almost one full day.
Sailing with a crew of 5 – American co-skippers Steve Fossett and David Scully, English yachtsman Brian Thompson and Irish husband and wife team, Con Murphy and Cathy Mac Aleavey from the National Yacht Club – "Lakota" crossed the start line at the Kish in Dublin Bay on Wednesday, 8th September 1993 and headed North East, finishing at 09.12 on Friday 10th September, completing the course in 44 hours, 42 mins and 20 seconds, averaging 15.84 knots.
The National Yacht Club is the keeper of records of Round Ireland speed record attempts for solo, monohull and multihull records.
