RORC Confirm Sponsor for 2022 Non-Stop Round Britain & Ireland Race

11th May 2021

Sevenstar Yacht Transport confirms continued support of the RORC's 1,805nm non-stop Round Britain and Ireland Race for the 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race Credit: Paul Wyeth

August 2022 will see the start of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s most tactically challenging offshore race as competitors in the non-stop Round Britain and Ireland Race set off on the 1,805 nautical mile marathon, run every four years.

Confirming their continued support of the toughest event in the RORC racing calendar is long-term partner Sevenstar Yacht Transport who is a leading Dutch yacht transport and logistics company. The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race is their fifth consecutive title sponsorship of the race; a partnership dating back to 2006.

“We are proud to once again sponsor this demanding ‘bucket-list’ race,” says Sevenstar’s Managing Director, Richard Klabbers, who has himself twice competed in the punishing sprint around Britain and Ireland.

“The 2014 race led to an astonishing five world records being broken due to the exceptional weather conditions, thanks to hurricane ‘Bertha’ and in the last event in 2018, 28 teams from 18 different countries had to contend with a huge variety of conditions - from gale-force winds and massive waves, to dead calm and everything in between!” says Klabbers. “The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is there for all those sailors willing to test their personal limits by racing their boat around what can be a highly challenging race course and to finish is a huge personal achievement.”

Sidney Gavignet's MOD 70 Musandam-Oman Sail team sailed an epic race in the 2014 edition of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race and still hold the outright world record of 3 days 03:32:36 Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Richard Klabbers, Sevenstar's Managing Director (right) presents awards to Ian Walker whose record monohull run on VO 65 Azzam Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing of 4 days 13 hrs 10 mins 28 secs is the benchmark to beat in the 2022 race

A new Monohull Around Britain and Ireland World Record was established by Volvo Ocean 65 Azzam-Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker during the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 Photo: Ian Roman

“As organisers, we are delighted to have this enduring partnership with Sevenstar Yacht Transport,” says RORC Racing Manager, Chris Stone. “At 1,805 nautical miles the course is two and a half times longer than the Rolex Fastnet Race and it takes competitors through a myriad of different conditions, with crews having to cope with a huge number of elements. This is what makes the race so compelling and most sailors agree that it provides a tough test of character. Experienced amateurs and seasoned professionals alike aspire to compete in a race that is real challenge and run only every four years,” continues Stone.

First organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in 1995, the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race circumnavigates all the islands of the UK, including Muckle Flugga, the most northerly point, which at just under 61 degrees is further north than Cape Horn (56 deg) is south and a significant milestone for any sailor.

The overall winner of the 2018 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race - Pata Negra approaches the finish line in Cowes after racing nearly 2,000 nm in one of the toughest races in the RORC race programme Photo: Paul Wyeth

A memorable moment for all crews. Sam Goodchild rounds the most northerly point of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race course - Out Stack at Muckle Flugga

Encounters with wonderful sea life and spectacular scenery await competitors in the RORC's Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race as they navigate the 1,805nm course © Pascal Bakker/Junique Raymarine Sailing Team

Teams celebrate the finish of one of the toughest, and for many longest offshore races, which for all is a real personal achievement Photo: Patrick Eden/RORC

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race will feature a wide variety of yachts racing under the IRC rating rule as well as one design and open classes, such as IMOCA, Class40 and Multihulls. The majority of the fleet will race fully crewed, but with the popularity of the Two-Handed class in recent years, the race is expected to have a record entry.

The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race starts on Sunday 7th August 2022 from Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.

Published in Rd Britain & Ireland

Round Britain and Ireland Race Live Tracker 2022

Track the progress of race fleet on the live trackers above and see all Afloat's Round Britan and Ireland Race coverage

THE RACE:

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with The Royal Yacht Squadron. It is run every four years

There have been nine editions of the Round Britain and Ireland Race which started in 1976
Sevenstar has sponsored the race four times - 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and has committed to a longterm partnership with the RORC

The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is a fully crewed non-stop race covering 1,805 nautical miles and is open to IRC, IRC Two Handed, IMOCA 60s, Class40s, Volvo 65s and Multihulls that will race around Britain and Ireland, starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes on the Isle of Wight starting after Cowes Week on Sunday 7 August 2022

The last edition of the race in 2018 attracted 28 teams with crews from 18 nations. Giles Redpath's British Lombard 46 saw over victory and Phil Sharp's Class40 Imerys Clean Energy established a new world record for 40ft and under, completing the course in 8 days 4 hrs 14 mins 49 secs.

The 1,805nm course will take competitors around some of the busiest and most tactically challenging sailing waters in the world. It attracts a diverse range of yachts and crew, most of which are enticed by the challenge it offers as well as the diversity and beauty of the route around Britain and Ireland with spectacular scenery and wildlife. Most sailors agree that this race is one of the toughest tests as it is nearly as long as an Atlantic crossing, but the changes of direction at headlands will mean constant breaks in the watch system for sail changes and sail trim

Published in Rd Britain & Ireland

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Round Britain & Ireland Race

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