Three Irish club entries will join this weekend’s high-speed North Channel sailing challenge from Ballyholme to Portpatrick.
The weather-dependent attempt is provisionally scheduled to begin at approximately 12.30pm on Friday, 7 August, during the Irish Multihull Northern Championships at Ballyholme Yacht Club.
Ballyholme’s under-21 pairing of Cameron Wallace and Toby Collins will compete in an F18 catamaran.
They will be joined by Ballyholme sailor Richard Swanston, a single-handed record holder, and the Swords Sailing Club pairing of Pawel Trojanowski and Sean Dorenbusch.
The three F18 entries expand the line-up first reported by Afloat in July, when three British foiling teams announced plans to challenge the North Channel record.
Kevin Dutch and Dave Banner, Mark Sewell and Will Smith, and Chris King and Marcus King are due to compete in F20 Carbon catamarans.
The boats can exceed 25 knots, but their crews will face powerful tides, steep waves and rapidly changing conditions between Northern Ireland and south-west Scotland.
The time to beat is one hour, 30 minutes and 41 seconds.
That mark was established in 2023 by British Olympic silver medallists and world champions John Gimson and Anna Burnet in a foiling Nacra 17.
Afloat first reported details of the three-team Guinness World Records bid on 25 July. A successful crossing is expected to be submitted for official recognition.
Friday’s proposed departure remains dependent on the North Channel weather and sea state, with the event window continuing until Sunday, 9 August.
A media reception is scheduled for 10am at Ballyholme Yacht Club on Friday before the boats take to the water.
