Galway-Bound Fleet Meeting Headwinds In First Leg of Round Britain & Ireland 2022 from Plymouth

30th May 2022

Ready for the off – Kuba Szymanski’s First 40.7 Polished Manx from the Isle of Man in pre-start manoeuvres at Plymouth before the start of the Round Britain & Ireland 2022’s first leg to the Genesys-sponsored stopover in Galway

Although the fleet starting yesterday (Sunday) in the first stage from Plymouth of the Royal Western Round Britain & Ireland Race 2022 to the initial Genesys-sponsored 48-hour stopover in Galway found the early morning rain giving way to sunshine, by the time the leaders were reaching the Lizard Point the nor-easter which would have given a beam reach to Mizen Head in Ireland had backed to give headwinds. In fact, at some stages winds from every direction were being experienced.

At just 25ft LOA, he vintage Vertue Class Mea from Italy is the smallest bat in the fleet

Thus with barometric pressure rising and light northerlies settling in, it’s going to be a slow first stage regardless of size, and finishing times in Galway are likely to be spread over a very long period for a fleet which ranges in size from an Open 50 down to a vintage Vertue 25, and includes several potent multihulls.

The class S&S 34 Olbia from France adds to the race’s international flavour and boat variety

The Shuttleworth trimaran Morpheus from Essex is one of the line honours favourites

Published in Royal Western Rd Britain & Ireland, Galway Harbour

Royal Western Yacht Club Round Britain and Ireland Race Live Tracker 2022

Track the progress of the 2022 Royal Western Round Britain & Ireland Race fleet on the live tracker above

Published in Royal Western Rd Britain & Ireland

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About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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