The 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race is underway after a clean start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, with 32 yachts and 182 sailors from 22 nations embarking on one of offshore sailing's toughest endurance tests.
In bright sunshine and a light easterly breeze, the fleet crossed the start line without incident before beating east out of the Solent on the opening leg of the 1,805-nautical-mile challenge. The course will take competitors around Britain and Ireland, including the exposed waters off Ireland's west coast, St Kilda, the Shetland Islands and the North Sea, before returning to Cowes.
Widely regarded as the Royal Ocean Racing Club's premier offshore test, the race demands not only speed but resilience, with crews facing complex tidal gates, busy shipping lanes, headlands, sandbanks and rapidly changing weather conditions over the coming days.
Heavy Hitters: The maxi yachts dominate the opening miles of the 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race as the IRC Zero fleet stretches out after a clean start from Cowes. Photo: Rick Tomlinson
Among the leading contenders is the four-person Bellino crew of RORC Commodore Deb Fish, Rob Craigie, joined by Irish sailors Nicole Hemeryck and Joe Griffiths. Nicole and Joe are two graduates from the Griffin programme, as Afloat has previously reported. Fish knows the race better than most, having navigated Incisor of Wight to overall victory in 2000 before narrowly missing a second overall win in 2022, finishing just seven minutes behind on corrected time.
"The Round Britain and Ireland Race is the most challenging race in the RORC calendar, without a doubt," said Fish. "It is 1,800 miles of headlands, rocky shores, tidal races, traffic separation schemes, sandbanks, wind farms and everything else that this extraordinary coastline can throw at you."
"Offshore racing is full of highs and lows, but when you overcome difficult moments together, whether there are two of you or 20, it brings you together as a crew. This race does that more than any other."
Fish also highlighted the growing presence of younger sailors in the fleet, particularly those progressing through RORC's Griffin development programme, describing their participation as vital for the future of offshore racing.
Forecast conditions are expected to become progressively more demanding during the opening night. After a relatively gentle start, a 10-15-knot westerly gradient is forecast to establish, creating an upwind passage out of the English Channel before veering north-westerly. With the evening tide reversing, crews are also expected to encounter steep, uncomfortable seas as wind opposes tide.
Two hours after the start, Johnny Vincent's Volvo 70 Pace led the fleet on the water as she approached Bembridge Ledge, making over 10 knots, with Jens Kellinghusen's Ker 56 Varuna 6 close behind. In the closely matched Class40 fleet, Pierre LeBoucher's Penfret and Greg Leonard's Swift were locked together at the front of their class.
Offshore Exit: Class40 Swift heads east through the Solent as the fleet leaves Cowes behind, with the Dar Młodzieży providing a striking backdrop to the opening afternoon of the 1,805-nautical-mile race. Photo: Rick Tomlinson
With almost 1,800 miles still to sail, the fleet now turns its attention to the long offshore passage ahead, where weather, tactics and endurance will determine who remains in contention for overall honours.
