Outstanding 45-boat line up for inaugural SORC Round the Rock race
by Rupert Holmes 24 Jun 2016 17:01 BST
2 July 2016
45 boats entered for SORC Round the Rock © SORC
SORC's first-ever solo Round the Rock race, sponsored by Virgin Media Business, has attracted 45 confirmed entries, making it the largest solo race in UK waters this year. The international fleet is drawn from five countries, including France, Germany, Ireland, Australia and the UK.
The 610 mile route has long been recognised as one of the world's most demanding race courses, even for fully crewed yachts, yet interest in the race has far exceeded the organiser's initial expectations. "The response and enthusiasm from Corinthian solo sailors has been tremendous," says race director Rob Craigie.
So what lies behind the appeal of the race? "It's easily the biggest yacht racing challenge that can be completed in a week's holiday," Craigie explains. "Just getting safely around the course will be a huge achievement. But, at the same time the racing at the top of the fleet will be really intense, both for the overall winner and also within the different groups of closely-matched boats."
Entries include:
- 7 Sunfast 3600s
- 7 JPK10.10s
- 6 Sunfast 3200s
plus Class 40s, Open 50, Contessa 32 and Sigma 33 and many more.
The fleet will start assembling in Southampton's Ocean Village Marina from Wednesday June 29, in preparation for the start in the central Solent at 1130 on Saturday July 2. The first finishers are expected in Plymouth after three or four days, although the slower boats may not finish until the end of the week.
After the start the fleet will head west to Land's End and then up the to Fastnet rock off south-west Ireland. After rounding the rock the course takes competitors west of the Scilly islands and then to the finish in Plymouth.
There's a fantastic array of prizes on offer from the event's sponsors, including a holiday for two people, with flights, at Ocean Elements' flagship beach club hotel at Vassiliki in Greece.
Follow the race at www.solofastnet.co.uk, via the YB tracker at yb.tl/sorcrtr2016 and on social media at www.facebook.com/sorcsolo