Khumbu confirmed overall winner of Round Ireland Race
by Kyran O'Grady 26 Jun 16:06 BST
24 June 2026
Khumbu skipper Guy Gillon (centre) with Kyran O'Grady, Race Director with Wicklow Sailing Club with the trophies for line honours and overall victory in the 704 nautical-mile Round Ireland Race © David Branigan / Oceansport
After six days of racing so far and with more than half the fleet still at sea, officials at Wicklow Sailing Club have confirmed that Guy Gillon's Khumbu is now unbeatable and therefore the overall winner of the Round Ireland Race 2026.
Having won 'line honours' as first boat to complete the 704 nautical mile course back to Wicklow on Wednesday morning, a waiting game followed to see if any of the chasing pack could beat the corrected time set by Guy Gillon's team.
Corrected time uses a boat's technical rating as a form of handicapping under the IRC system.
But untypical calm conditions have prevailed for almost the entirety of this edition of the race with the 53 starters frequently becalmed.
The next finisher didn't reach Wicklow for more than 24 hours after Khumbu while groups of competitors have been arriving in waves and, most frustratingly have to almost drift to the finish if tidal conditions permitted.
Nevertheless, for those that have managed to endure the course and complete the race, there was widespread elation between the crews celebrating with freshly cooked breakfasts by the volunteers at Wicklow Sailing Club that is once again a hive of activity.
Another cluster of boats is expected to finish later this afternoon while more than a dozen crews are stretched between Dundalk and Belfast Lough and will finish on Saturday. The remaining two boats are still on the north coast and it could be Sunday before the race has ended.
Due to the delays, Friday evening's planned prize-giving has been postponed to 6pm on Saturday evening to allow results to be decided across the various classes.
"While Ireland basks in glorious sunshine, the associated light winds have resulted in probably the longest Round Ireland Race ever," said Kyran O'Grady, Race Director with Wicklow Sailing Club. "This event is unusual for sailing as it offers a unique circumnavigation: simply completing the course is the real achievement."
To date, eleven entries have retired from the competition with all citing time concerns for crews and boats expecting a more typical four or five day race.
Track the fleet here.