The 50th Anniversary RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race started with cannon fire from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line in Cowes, marking the start of one of offshore sailing’s greatest challenges. In bright sunshine, the 32 competing boats, crewed by 182 sailors from five continents, made a clean start, beating to windward in a light easterly breeze. The line was all clear and the fleet was soon racing east out of the Solent.

Ahead lies a 1,805-nautical-mile course around some of the most exposed waters in northern Europe, and undoubtedly plenty of twists and turns along the way. From the tidal headlands of the English Channel to the west coast of Ireland, St Kilda and the Shetland Islands, plus the complexity of the North Sea, this race will test boats and crews to their limits.

RORC Commodore Deb Fish knows the Round Britain and Ireland Race exceptionally well. She navigated Incisor of Wight to overall victory in 2000 and returned in 2022, racing double-handed with Rob Craigie on Bellino tofinish second overall by just seven minutes after IRC time correction. © RORC Video Producer: RORC (Corinna Haines and James Tomlinson)