The Royal Ocean Racing Club confirmed on Wednesday, August 19, that no remaining competitor could better Pace’s IRC corrected time, securing the top prize for Vincent and his crew. The victory has a strong Irish connection, with Tom McWilliam and James Carroll among the 14-strong Pace crew that raced the 1,805-nautical-mile course around Britain and Ireland.
Pace’s overall IRC success completes a major treble after the Volvo 70 also secured Monohull Line Honours and victory in IRC Zero.
Pace crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line in Cowes at 04:17:31 BST on Sunday, August 16, recording an elapsed time of 6 days, 14 hours, 47 minutes and 31 seconds.
“It is very emotional and, honestly, mind-blowing,” Vincent said. “Before the start, Monohull Line Honours was a realistic target and winning IRC Zero would have meant that we had competed well against the boats in our own rating band. To win IRC Overall in a race this long is something else.”
Victory Run – Johnny Vincent’s Volvo 70 Pace powers through the Solent after a campaign that delivered IRC Overall, Monohull Line Honours and IRC Zero victory in the 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race. Photo: RORC
Vincent said the race's scale and unpredictability made the overall victory particularly significant.
“Conditions can change so much over 1,805 miles that part of it is in the hands of the gods. We feel unbelievably overjoyed and fortunate.”
Pace wins battle for IRC honours
Pace faced a strong challenge on corrected time from Antoine Magré’s radical Mach 50 Palanad 4 during the race, and Vincent paid tribute to his rivals following confirmation of the result.
“My heart goes out to Palanad 4. We had a real battle royal on corrected time around the racecourse,” Vincent said. “We enjoyed a great run up the west coast, then they came back at us in the North Sea. For them to watch us finish while they fought light winds and tide must have been mentally brutal. We have enormous respect for what they achieved.”
Palanad 4 eventually finished third on the water behind Pace and Varuna 6, completing the course in 8 days, 1 hour, 44 minutes and 31 seconds.
McWilliam and Carroll part of winning crew
McWilliam and Carroll shared the victory with an experienced international crew aboard Pace, with Vincent crediting both those on board and the shore team for getting the Volvo 70 around the demanding course without a gear failure or breakage.
“This victory belongs to the whole Pace team,” Vincent said. “The shore crew prepared the boat so well that across nearly 2,000 miles we did not have a single gear failure or breakage. That is remarkable.”
Vincent also highlighted the teamwork required during more than six days of offshore racing.
Winning Crew – The Pace team at work aboard the Volvo 70, with Irish sailors Tom McWilliam and James Carroll among the 14-strong crew that claimed overall IRC honours in the 1,805-nautical-mile race. Photo: RORC
“On board there were no egos and no hierarchy, just an amazing group supporting one another, whether racing flat-out or making tea in the dead of night while being thrown around below. We were all there because we love yacht racing.” “It means a huge amount to me. I hope it means just as much to the seasoned professionals in the team, because they worked incredibly hard and thoroughly deserve it.”
Alongside Tom McWilliam and James Carroll, Pace’s winning crew comprised Johnny Vincent, Al Fraser, Anthony Haines, Antonio Cuervas-Mons, Ed Myers, Jules Salter, Luke Molloy, Mark Bartlett, Neal McDonald, Pete Cumming, Stu Bannatyne and Trystan Seal.
While boats remained at sea and racing continued towards Cowes, RORC described the announcement as provisional. However, with no remaining competitor capable of beating Pace’s corrected time, the Volvo 70 has secured IRC Overall, Monohull Line Honours and IRC Zero victory in the 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race.
