The closing date for entries for next year’s Shetland Round Britain & Ireland race is just one month away (January 31st). With a maximum of 50 boats allowed and 44 competitors already booked in spaces are limited.
The Shetland Round Britain & Ireland race has the support of many sailing greats including: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston; Steve Fosset and Pete Goss MBE. It is a truly global event with competitors taking part in 2010 deriving from Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Belgium.
Many well known sailors have already signed up, including the winner of the OSTAR 2009 (Original Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race), Jankees Lampe. Jankees broke the record for a 40ft vessel when he completed the trans-Atlantic race earlier this year, finishing in just 17 days, 17 hours and 40 minutes. He will certainly be the one to watch in next year’s race and will be competing in his boat Roaring Again. The forty footer is strong and fast and ideally suited to the rigorous conditions north of Scotland.
Race regulars, Jerry Freeman and Mary Falk will be joining forces to sail together in Mary’s sloop Q11. Jerry has already sailed the Q11 to America in this summer’s OSTAR. Both Jerry and Mary are no strangers to the Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Race having taken part an astounding five times before.
Another sailor whose love for the race has bought him back to compete after nearly 30 years, is Finnish sailor David Von Flittner. This time David will be sailing with his son Nicholas in their 50ft trimaran, Rauma Repola.
Shetland Islands Council, who announced its sponsorship of the event in June, is now gearing up to promote the race and welcome the crews to Lerwick, one of the four compulsory stops during the race. Shetland is the ideal sponsor of the Shetland Round Britain & Ireland 2010 due to its maritime links and history, as well as its 35 marinas.
The race will depart from Plymouth on 6th June 2010 and see the competitors sail 2000 nautical miles around the UK coastline. The race has been hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club every four years since 1966.
Douglas Irvine, Business Development Manager for Shetland Islands Council, commented: “We are thrilled to have seen the places snapped up so quickly. We are still a month to the deadline and only six remain. This is certainly testament to the race itself which has been running for more than 40 years. This is one of the reasons we wanted to play a part in the race once again. We will now look forward to the race start and inviting the sailors to a warm Shetland welcome when they arrive in Lerwick.”
“The trials and tests of this four yearly adventure are so addictive that old friends return again and again,” adds Peter Taylor, Race Director of Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Race 2010. “And we are more than pleased to welcome them back to Plymouth. Not only are we delighted to see Jankees Lampe, Mary Falk and Jerry Freeman, it will also be good to see Desmond Hampton, veteran of three previous races and now taking part with his long-time sailing partner Adrian Biggs. Both men are into their sixties and their experience and boat, a water ballasted 40 footer, are sure to hold them in good stead.”
For further information about the Round Britain & Ireland 2010 race and those taking part please visit www.rwyc.org. For further information about the race sponsor, Shetland Islands Council, please visit www.shetlandmarinas.com.
