Day One, 7.30 pm - The Round Ireland Race should come with a health warning. Following it might lead to mild addiction. And for the Round Ireland 2026, those warnings should be raised to Red Alert: This product only to be consumed in a clinical setting, supervised by qualified people in white coats.

Because not only do we have probably the most interestingly varied fleet ever to do the 46-year-old biennial classic, but the weather situation is something settled to a level we experience in Ireland only very rarely.

Having started with a summery southerly and the ebb beginning to run south, the fleet have been desperately trying to cover the miles and get the Tuskar Rock astern before the wind tap is turned off completely overnight, and the foul flood tide starts to make.

CUNNING KEDGING

But almost inevitably they’re going to be faced with the challenge of kedging. And even here the cute old hands have a trick up their ragged sleeves. The secret is to let down your kedge gently not from the stemhead, but from a point amidships on the hull side away from your closest rivals. They might be half a mile astern by the time they’ve copped on.

Countdown Time — A crewman checks his watch aboard the Botin 56 Khumbu during the final moments before the start of the Round Ireland Yacht Race 2026 Photo: Afloat

But for now, at 1930s hrs, we owe the Greystones crew on Frank Whelan’s Sydney 43 El Syd a big apology. Our mid-afternoon report on the early stages suggested that despite the Syd bursting out through the starting fleet in spectacular style, by the time they got to Wicklow Head the Botin 56 Khumbu and the Far 60 Venomous had put Syd safely astern.

Not a bit of it. Khumbu may now be clear ahead, but El Syd has continued to give Venomous – and everyone else – a very hard time, and as we write she looks to have dodged through inside the coastal sandbanks at the Sluice at Cahore, and is making merrily towards Wexford town, very much in contention.

Southern Charge — Frank Whelan's Sydney 43 El Syd passes Wicklow Head during the Round Ireland Yacht Race 2026. The Greystones entry remained in contention with Olympian Mark Mansfield among the crew. Photo: Afloat

On corrected time, Johnny and Suzie Murphy’s J/109 Outrajeous continues to live up to her name by maintaining the IRC lead, with Howth clubmate Mike Evans next in line in The Big Picture, and El Syd third. In the Irish Sea at least, Irish boats are doing well. But it rather looks as though they and everyone else will be experiencing an almost windless yet tide-riven night, and will need to call on the inspiration of our seafaring saints to maintain some equilibrium of mind and sense of purpose.

Big Picture Move — Mike Evans' The Big Picture races past Wicklow Head during the Round Ireland Yacht Race 2026. The Howth Yacht Club  entry,  with 1720 champion Ross McDonald among the crew   was among the leading Irish boats as conditions eased on the opening leg south. Photo: Bob Bateman