The family of Sam Beckett (1906-1989), the Nobel Laureate for Literature in 1969, did their sailing from the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. So it was doubtless a shrewdly-considered decision by the Powers-That-Be to have the Naval Vessel LE Samuel Beckett as the guardship/committee vessel – complete with Minister for Defence Dooley on board - at today’s sparkling start at 1400 hrs for the 2026 Round Ireland Race at Wicklow.

The start of the 2026 Round Ireland Race as seen from above Wicklow Harbour Photo: Colin McEndoo

With the expected southerly summer breeze, it made sense that the very last of the north-going flood was still running, as a fleet of 55 on the shortish line might have been mayhem with the ebb building. As it was, several boats will think they had the best of it, but no-one will argue that Frank Whelan’s Sydney 43 El Syd from Greystones was one of them. For by the time the leading trio got to Wicklow Head, El Syd was still pacing along at the front of the fleet with the significantly larger Botin 56 Khumbu and the Carroll Marine Farr 60 Venomous.

Holding Firm — Frank Whelan's Sydney 43 El Syd leads the fleet away from Wicklow and remains in contention with the much larger Khumbu and Venomous during the opening hours of the 2026 Round Ireland Yacht Race. Photo: Afloat

Nevertheless the numbers carried their remorseless message, as Venomous was clocking 7.4 knots over the ground while the super-hot Khumbu’s figure was 8.8, but El Syd at times was slipping back to 5.4 knots made good.

Race Leaders — The Botin 56 Khumbu (left) and Farr 60 Venomous pass Wicklow Head during the opening stages of the 2026 Round Ireland Yacht Race as the fleet begins its clockwise circumnavigation of Ireland. Photo: Afloat

Meanwhile in the fleet at large, private battles were already developing – close-fought private contests that in some cases will continue unremittingly right round Ireland.

Khumbu Flying — The Botin 56 Khumbu off Wicklow Head during the opening stages of the 2026 Round Ireland Yacht Race. The race favourite made a fast start in ideal south easterly conditions. Photo: Afloat

As we close this initial update the word is that at 1500hrs on IRC Corrected Time, Johnny and Suzy Murphy’s J/109 Outrajeous is leading overall from El Syd, with the Evans brothers J/112 Big Picture (HYC) third, the Hall family’s Pata Negra from Pwllheli fourth, Tom Kneen’s JPK 11.80Sunrise 5th, and Khumbu sixth.

Corrected-Time Rivals — Tom Kneen's JPK 11.80 Sunrise (left) and Johnny and Suzy Murphy's J/109 Outrajeous battle south from Wicklow. Outrajeous was reported leading the Round Ireland Race on IRC corrected time in the opening hours. Photo: Afloat