#rdp13 – There is further disappointment this morning as the much hoped for challenge to the Round Ireland speed sailing record has been scrapped. Last night, Route des Princes organisers admitted the weather window to beat the long standing 44-hour Round Ireland record had been missed.
Organisers confirmed an attempt in May. Last week, Afloat.ie had signalled the weekend opportunity for a Round Ireland attempt since last Wednesday.
Forecasts for today (Monday) show only light winds which means even these ultra fast boats could not make a record time.
Instead, the fleet will sail a newly configured course to Plymouth with a measure of flexibility built. in The extreme easterly turning mark may be as far up the Channel as Southern Head off Newhaven, East Sussex. There are three other choices at Nab Tower, Fairway and Shambles. The longest possible course is 850 miles and the shortest is 650.
It is the second time this year that Ireland's Damian Foxall and the team of Omansail have ditched plans for an attempt on the Round Ireland speed sailing record. Foxall and the crew came to Ireland in March for a dedicated attempt but were beaten back by gales on the Welsh coast. For now, the 20–year record set by the late adventurer Steve Fossett on the Lakota Catamaran lives on. Perhaps Foxall and Omansail might make it third time lucky sometime soon?
