yacht race ireland

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The SSE Renewables Round Ireland is Ireland’s premier offshore yacht race, and the third longest race in the Royal Ocean Racing Club calendar.

The race first took place in 1980 with only sixteen boats. Since then the race has been held biennially and the fleet has grown steadily, attracting a record 64 entrants from all over the world from maxi to smaller club boats 1/3rd their size and everything in-between.

The course is 708nm starting and finishing in Wicklow on the East Coast of Ireland. The fleet head off South, leaving Ireland and all its islands ( excluding Rockall ) to Starboard. Why not charter a truly superb racing yacht for the event and experience it for yourself!

Friday – Skipper’s reception and race briefing Saturday – Race starts Friday – Prize-giving and party

Yacht Charter for this Event

64′ modern classic – crusade, volvo ocean 65 – sisi, grand soleil 46 – belladonna, volvo 70 – green dragon, sun fast 3200 – hair of the dog, sun fast 3300 – lord of the dance, crew spaces for this event.

Please contact us if you are interested in this event.

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Round Ireland Yacht Race 2026

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Tour Details

Held biennially, The Round Ireland is Ireland’s premier offshore yacht race. At just over 700 nautical miles, over five days, it is the second longest race in the Royal Ocean Racing Club calendar and is one of the true classics of the racing world. Originally taking place in 1980 with only thirteen boats, the fleet has grown steadily in the past 40 years and now attracts a record 64 entrants from all over the world, ranging from small yachts to high performance catamarans. 

The course is simple; leave from Wickow on Ireland’s east coast, then keep it’s rocky outcrops to starboard as the fleet heads south. This naturally lends itself to creating one of the most picturesque and stunning race courses in the sailing calendar. At times it can be both challenging and varied; from battling Atlantic squalls to wind shadows and holes, this is not a cruise but a challenge to be conquered and something to be proud of.

Hosted by Wicklow Sailing Club, there are plenty of recognisable names and impressive boats and with the Royal Irish Yacht Club acting as the Dublin hosts, larger boats can also compete. Big or small, all boats are treated with the same wonderful Irish hospitality, famously known as the Warm Wicklow Welcome. 

We also include the option of a sail from Hamble to Wicklow.

***Bookings are available for 2026 and we will confirm the dates as soon as they are announced. Please get in touch with us if you would like to join in the future.

Departure & Return Location

The race is from Wicklow, around Ireland and back to Wicklow.

Start Date & Time

Safety briefing and the first day of training start at 8:00am  on 16th June

Price Includes

• Yacht Charter
• Accommodation on board (shared cabins)
• Meals onboard (self service)
• Certified Professional Skipper
• Basic Training
• Consumables for the yacht (diesel, fuel and water)
• Mooring Fees
• Insurance for the yacht
• Personal locating beacon

Price Excludes

• Meals (Breakfast & Dinner)
• Transfers airport-marina-airport
• Shore based accommodation
• Personal insurance (we recommend Topsail)

Complementaries

• T-Shirt with your national flag

What to Expect

• Professional Instruction Our Skippers are experienced instructors that make every crew member feel welcome and tailor their delivery to the experience and style of the crew
• Competitive boat Although the taking part is often fun, we believe the full experience comes from pushing ourselves to the max and competing with other boats on the water with a view to win
• High safety standards Maintaining and equipping a yacht to a high standard is not an easy task. No expense is spared in ensuring the best equipment is selected and repairs are undertaken quickly and proficiently.
• No Passengers Although we are happy to provide sight seeing adventures, this experience is a regatta so you can expect to be actively involved in sailing the boat, there isn't any rail meat on our boats.

Dates are Subject to Change

Bookings are available for 2026 and we will confirm the dates as soon as they are announced. Please get in touch with us if you would like to join in the future.

16th June 2026 Arrival in Hamble & Departure for Qualifying Passage

Arrival in Hamble and welcome on the yacht at Port Hamble Marina. Meet your skipper and crew at 8.00am, followed by a safety brief and an overview of the passage route to Wicklow. You will have a safety briefing before leaving at 9.00am for the 3 day sail to Wicklow.

17th June 2026 Qualifying to Ireland

Continue sailing to Wicklow.

18th June 2026 Qualifying Passage to Ireland

19th june 2026 arrival in wicklow & boat prep.

After arrival in Wicklow, a shower and some food the skipper will outline the maintenance and training programme for the next 2 days in preparation for the race.

20th June 2026 Training Day 1 & Skipper Briefing

After further boat prep and training the skipper will join the Skipper Reception and Briefing with one further crew member.

21st June 2026 Training Day 2

Continue training and preparations.

22nd June 2026 Race Start

14:00pm — Race start. Starting at Wicklow Sailing Club, leave Ireland and all its islands excluding Rockall to starboard.

27th June 2026 Race-Finish

Typically, and dependent on the weather it takes about 5 days to get around the approximately 704nm course. With a watch system, you will get more experience of what it means to participate in a race while sharing the excitement and the sense of achievement with your crew members when finally crossing that finish line.

28th June 2026 Prize-giving

Celebrate your efforts with your crew and the other participants at the Pricegiving and final party.

Related Tours

Cork Week 2026

NYYC Transatlantic Race 2025

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• Start Yachting
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• 2024 Round Ireland Yacht Race

The 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race Expedition

• Corporate Yacht Racing Club
• Exciting Yacht Racing
• Relaxed Yacht Cruising
• Yacht Charter
• Booking Form

• 20 Days of Yacht Training and Racing
• Only 6-7 Holiday Days Required
• (30 Days training if you can make the deliveries)
• 1,000 miles of Offshore Yacht Racing
• 3 Training Weekends, 2 Offshore Yacht Races
• 1,000 Delivery Miles
• ISAF Offshore Safety Course and Team Kit

Irish Offshore Sailing. 13th Overall out of 400 yachts in the 2021 Fastnet, 2nd in Class and fastest Irish Yacht.  Fastest Sailing School Yacht in the 2015 Fastnet Race 66th Overall in 340 yacht fleet, 6th in class in the 2016 Round Ireland Yacht Race, 3rd in the class in the 2014 Round Ireland Yacht Race, 4th in class in the 2012 Round Ireland Yacht Race. Learn to Yacht Race to Win!

Here is your opportunity to do something extraordinary. Train over 3 weekends with 6 other crewmembers and two professional sailors onboard a Jeanneau Sunfast 37. Your professional skipper and first mate will put you through your paces, teaching you skills you will rely upon during the race. When you are trimming and easing that spinnaker in the middle of the night getting covered in spray while surfing down waves at 11 knots and you’re 60 miles offshore, you know you’ve become an offshore yacht racer.

The Rolex Fastnet is one of the toughest offshore yacht races on the European sailing calendar. Following the 1979 Fastnet disaster it has become one of the most high profile yacht races in the World. Since then, some of the strictest safety measures have been put into place and the race has become much safer now than it was back in the 1970’s.

This is a big challenge, while a novice sailor is welcome to participate with us on this campaign, awareness of the intensity of the training weekends and the physical discomfort during the race is important. The most important attribute for each crew member, more important than your previous sailing experience is your attitude. We need enthusiastic, resilient, hard working individuals with an easy going personality capable of getting along with other people in a confined environment under difficult circumstances.

This may well be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. The camaraderie between people working together sharing a common goal as well as that feeling of complete freedom of living on the sea, and aware only of that present moment is something becoming rarer and rarer in present lifestyles.

If you’re unsure if this is for you, but like the idea why not come and meet us for a coffee, we will show you over the yacht and discuss campaign. You could also consider booking in for a normal yacht training weekend at a cost of €320. This will give you a great insight as to what its all about, but hurry as places are booking up very quickly!

The Rolex Fastnet Expedition

• (30 Days if you can make the deliveries)

The practical training begins Saturday the 27th May 2023 at 0900 from our base at Dun Laoghaire Marina. The aim of the training is to firstly make you safe and useful onboard as you move around the boat. We cover man overboard drills and show you exactly what to do in the event of an emergency. We then undergo an intensive and highly repetitious system of maneuvers, covering all aspects of yacht racing.

You will learn how to reef sails quickly. How to peel headsails efficiently and how to race trim the sails on all points of sailing. You will learn how to set up, hoist, gybe and drop the asymmetrical spinnaker in a confident professional manner. You will get coaching on how to helm a yacht in race mode and how to carry out all of the routine tasks needed to keep the entire team safe and happy while racing a yacht offshore.

The week before the race, we bring the yacht to Gosport, this takes around 6 days and you are welcome to sail on this trip if you can afford the time off work and if we have space. We usually meet in Gosport (easy rail access from both Gatwick and Southampton airports) , and get the food and last minute touch ups to the boat before sailing the short trip to Cowes in the Isle of Wight, where we register for the race and soak up the atmosphere, go out for a meal together and get ready for the startline at 1200 the next morning.

This is the opportunity of a lifetime to take part in this outstanding adventure. This again features expert tuition given on a 3:1 student instructor ratio, so you get the most out of this intensive training program. It is open to beginners to sailing and to those who can bring plenty of experience to the team. Again, all we ask is that you are motivated to learn, flexible and willing to endure physical discomfort in a confined social environment and have a positive attitude throughout. We guarantee you will be a seasoned offshore yacht racer by the end of this expedition. For full details of dates see below.

 2023 Campaign Itinerary:  

The Rolex Fastnet 2023 starts Sat 22nd July 2023 at 1200 off Cowes on the Isle of Wight

Cost : €5,450 per person

Early Bird Price: €4,950 per person (if deposit paid before 31st Dec 2022)

50% deposit secures your place. This deposit is fully refundable up until February 1st 2023

The fastnet race is an iconic race, it’s the race that many crews are working towards all season, and in most cases it marks the pinnacle of one’s sailing career. Having a accrued a foreboding image from the early races in ‘70s this has truly become the World’s most famous yacht race with over 400 yachts entering each year from more than 20 different countries. Its one of the very few sporting events where you actually race against some of the best sailors in the world and the fastest and most prestigious yachts in the world. The start line off the Isle of Wight is breathtaking!

This year for the first time in the 100 year history of the Fastnet Race, the race course has been modified. Traditionally the race was from Cowes, round the Fastnet and back to Plymouth. This year to accommodate a record number of yachts, the race will finish in Cherbourg in France. This makes the race 100 miles longer and will take an additional day to complete. Expect around 6 days of racing !

Includes:  3:1 race tuition, race entry fees, fuel, marina fees, all food during the races, lunches during the training weekends and use of our offshore waterproof clothing. Team members will also be issued with branded team jacket and t-shirt. Team members are also welcome to participate in delivery of the yacht to and from the Fastnet race at no extra cost.

Whats not included:

The race starts in Cowes in the Isle of Wight and finishes in Cherbourg in France, transport costs to and from the yacht are not included. Transport costs if the yacht is stormbound and you need to make it back for work after the race is also not included. Sleeping bags, waterproof footwear, head torch and knife are essential pieces of personal kit which are not included. Dinners the night before and after the race as we usually eat out in a restaurant. Personal travel insurance which covers offshore yacht racing is also a compulsory requirement, this costs around €60- €90 for the duration of the campaign. After two fatalities in ocean racing in 2017 it has now become mandatory for each competitor to have a personal AIS beacon. If you fall overboard and you activate this beacon it allows your own vessel ( and other competing vessels and rescue services) to see your position in real time. This a small, simple but invaluable piece of kit that will be of great use to you after the campaign. These cost around £160, but there is an option to sell it to our future competitors if you feel you do not need one after the campaign.

Booking Conditions:

A 50% deposit of the total campaign fee secures your place on the campaign. This deposit is fully refundable up until the 1st  February 2023, upon this date you must decide to retrieve your deposit or pay up in full. After this date the payment for the campaign is not refundable. However, if we can offer your place to another participant, we will refund you the amount paid by the participant. This is never guaranteed, and cannot be provided after training commences. However in the past we have had a waiting list of people hoping for a last minute cancellation. Our full booking conditions and application form is provided before you make payment of a deposit.

• Full Terms and Conditions

'Real game-changers': West Cork diver launches Ireland's first commercial submarines

Testing of Ireland's first commercial submarines has been ongoing off Cape Clear since April.

As one of Ireland’s most experienced divers, he has spent much of his life underwater — now he is going deeper by launching the country’s first commercial submarines.

West Cork-based John Kearney, who has been involved in some of the most complex search and recovery dive operations off the Irish coast, says his new submersibles will be a game-changer in our ability to explore and understand our marine world, but also for search, rescue, recovery and survey operations.

He and his team, which includes experienced ex-navy and military divers, have been conducting sea trials off the south-west coast in recent months, performing up to 100 dives in the waters off Cape Clear island to demonstrate the sub’s capabilities and reliability.

But now he has officially unveiled the vessels, with the first vessel ready for deployment, and the second due to follow soon.

“Our main focus will be maritime research and recovery,” Mr Kearney said.

“They will be real game-changers for scientific and environmental research as well as survey and recovery operations. 

Over nine-tenths of Irish territory is underwater, and only a fraction has been explored. It really is still the great unknown, and the capabilities of our submarines will allow us to explore great swathes of the seabed, not just in Ireland but worldwide.

“Recently, a Stone Age wall was discovered off Germany's Baltic coast that may be the oldest known megastructure built by humans in Europe.

“So who knows what our marine archaeologists and historians might find around coastlines across the globe.” 

The subs were built by the Dutch company U-Boat Worx and have been certified by Germany-based DNV, the world's leading classification society, which requires each individual submersible to meet stringent and extensive rules and regulations.

Powered by electric motors, the A-EX1 vessel, the company’s NEMO 2 model, is a compact submersible that can carry two people — one pilot and a passenger. It can dive for up to eight hours to a depth of 100m — about 330ft — and features a groundbreaking pressure hull design which provides a virtually unimpeded view.

It also has enough air, food, and water to sustain crew life on board for up to five days in the event of a seabed emergency.

The A-EX2 sub is the larger Super Yacht Sub 3 model, which can accommodate three people — one pilot and two passengers. 

It can dive for up to 12 hours, also to a depth of 300m, about 1,000ft. It has similar safety features.

Both vessels have been customised to include an advanced forward-looking imaging sonar system, an externally mounted 4K camera specially adapted for underwater recording, as well as an extensive lighting rig to help explore the dark depths.

As investigations continue into the OceanGate Titan sub disaster in June 2023 , when the sub imploded at about 3,300m en route to the wreckage of the Titanic, killing all five people on board, Mr Kearney said his subs would operate at much shallower depths.

“But safety is and must always be the top priority,” he said.

Certification includes passing a range of rigorous tests and trials, from design to final delivery, overseen by independent surveyors, and the sub crews must follow rigorous pre- and post-dive checks similar to the procedures followed by airline pilots.

“It’s essential that our team of pilots and support personnel are fully up to speed on all aspects of operations to ensure the continued success of our missions,” Mr Kearney said.

Both vessels have been acquired by Muiri Carraige Aonair Teoranta (MCAT), a West Cork company headed by Mr Kearney, who has christened them the Atlantis Explorer 1 (A-EXI) and the Atlantis Explorer 2 (A-EX2).

Initial funding for the project has come from both private investors as well as from the Department of the Marine.

Historical shipwrecks

Mr Kearney said they also hope to use the submarines to explore historical shipwrecks that litter the seabed and uncover and identify their condition and precise location.

It is estimated there are more than 18,000 known and potential shipwrecks in Irish waters alone, including inshore waterways.

“Our aim is to start with a baseline survey of historical and many more unknown shipwrecks in various waters and to put a stop to treasure hunters that have plundered our heritage unhindered for so long,” he said.

“They have caused immeasurable damage to historical wrecks and artifacts, sometimes destroying them almost entirely by using heavy breaking equipment.

“Once wrecks have been located and identified by our submarines, they will be subject to a non-destructive examination, and their condition recorded, thereby providing vital evidence to assist in any prosecution of parties engaged in theft from historical wrecks and sites.” 

The two subs, and their support vessel, will also be available for hire to marine companies and research institutions that require specific data from the ocean depths or the ocean floor, and they will be made available for use in underwater surveying and recovery missions worldwide.

“We would also be more than happy to make our submarines and expertise available to coast guards, law enforcement agencies, and naval services if they think it will assist them in any way, especially in the fight against drug smugglers,” Mr Kearney said.

He is also the driving force behind plans to develop a historical marine project, Fastnet Maritime Museum, in Baltimore, which he hopes will use including immersive 3D exhibitions showcasing our shipwrecks and our incredibly rich and varied marine life.

“We also plan to make use of the underwater footage we record to create a series of programmes for the public to make them more aware of the unbelievable world within our oceans and seas," he said. 

“My whole life has revolved around the sea, and I'm passionately interested in increasing the number of people who care about our oceans and our heritage."

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Leaders pass Fastnet Rock off West Cork coast in SSE Renewables Round Ireland Race

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