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2014 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race Starting Times

The fleet will be started from the Royal Yacht Squadron line, Cowes, crossing the line from west to east. The best vantage spots to enjoy the sight of the assembled yachts will be along Cowes Green and Egypt Esplanade. Boats will start to assemble in the starting area up to 90 minutes before the start of the race.

The course takes the competitors round the bottom of the Isle of Wight before sending them along the southern coast, past Cornwall and up round Ireland. Therefore there are plenty of spots around the island to view from along the way just after the start.

Start Times on Sunday August 10th 2014

Please note there will be a 10 minute starting sequence leading to the boats crossing the line to start.

Classes

Start Time

IRC Canting Keel, Zero, One

Two, Three, Four & Class40s

 1200

VO65 & Multihull

 1210

Facts and Stats

Record-breaking Race

In 2010 two competitors established two new World Records. Groupama 70 and Concise 2 both enjoyed a fast and furious race, smashing the Monohull and 40ft Category records respectively for sailing around Britain and Ireland, both records ratified by the John Reed of the WSSR Council.

Volvo Open 70 Groupama during the 2010 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Photo: RORC/Rick TomlinsonRecord: Around Britain and Ireland. Monohull

Yacht: "Groupama 70" Volvo Open 70
Name: Franck Cammas FRA and a crew of 9
Dates: 23/08/2010 to 29/08/2010
Start time: 1300 UTC. 23/08/10
Finish time: 10;26;55 UTC. 29/08/10
Elapsed time: 5d 21h 26m 55s
Distance: 1787 NM
Average speed: 12.63 kts
Comments: Previous record: "Aviva". Dee Caffari GBR. Jun 09. 6d 11h 30m 53s

Class 40 Concise during the 2010 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Photo: RORC/Rick TomlinsonRecord: Around Britain and Ireland. 40 ft Category

Yacht: "Concise 2" 39.8 ft Monohull
Name: Ned Collier-Wakefield GBR and a crew of 5
Dates: 23/08/2010 to 02/09/2010
Start time: 1300 UTC. 23/08/10
Finish time: 02;32;20 UTC 02/09/10
Elapsed time: 9d 13h 32m 20s
Distance: 1787 NM
Average speed: 7.78 kts
Comments: Previous record: "Roaring Forty" Michel Kleinjans BEL. June 04. 11d 12h 26m 48s

Muckle Flugga, most northerly pointMuckle Flugga...did you know?

  • The most northerly point on the course, the island and lighthosue of Muckle Flugga is a higher latitude north than Cape Horn is south by roughly 300 nm!
  • Legend has it that Muckle Flugga, and other outlying islands, were formed by two giants fighting over the love of a mermaid. They threw giant rocks at each other, which became the small islands. There isn't a happy ending as the mermaid, fed up with them both, said she would marry whoever could follow her to the North Pole; as they stumbled after her into the sea they both drowned!
  • The lighthouse was built over 150 years ago and first lit on New Year's Day 1858 to protect the ships durnig the Crimean War. Whilst it was manned the island was also the northernmost inhabited island, but was automated in 1995, losing its title.
  • The name 'Muckle Flugga' was only officially used from 1964; before then it was known as North Unst!
  • Robert Louis Stevenson visited the island on 18 June 1869 and there are many who consider this to be inspiration for his classic book, Treasure Island.

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