PredictWind support 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race
by Louay Habib / RORC 21 Jul 05:30 BST
9 August 2026
The start of IRC Two and IRC Three from the RYS, Cowes - Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race © Paul Wyeth / pwpictures.com
The Royal Ocean Racing Club is pleased to announce PredictWind as a supporter of the 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race, bringing specialist weather expertise, forecasting technology and enhanced race insight to one of offshore sailing's toughest challenges.
The 50th anniversary edition will start from Cowes on Sunday 9 August 2026. The non-stop course of approximately 1800nm takes the fleet around Britain and Ireland, including Land's End, the west coast of Ireland, St Kilda and Muckle Flugga and the North Sea and the English Channel, before returning to Cowes.
PredictWind's support will include a weather briefing at the Skippers' Briefing at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse on Saturday 8 August. Arnaud Monges, PredictWind meteorologist and America's Cup weather specialist, will deliver the official weather presentation, examining the developing systems around the course and the conditions likely to confront boats of very different sizes and speeds.
The presentation will also be streamed as a webinar and recorded for later publication through RORC and PredictWind channels. During the race, Monges will provide regular expert commentary on the predicted conditions around the course. His updates will look ahead, highlighting developing weather systems, areas of light or strong wind and the contrasting conditions likely to affect different sections of the fleet. The commentary will focus on how the forecast may influence the race.
Ben Willows, RORC Sporting Director, commented:
"Weather is fundamental to every RORC offshore race, but the Round Britain and Ireland Race presents an exceptional forecasting and navigational challenge. Crews can encounter Atlantic systems, major tidal gates, coastal effects and very different conditions around the course.
"PredictWind's involvement will provide competitors with valuable expert insight before the start, while the weather updates during the race will help our audience understand how conditions are developing around this extraordinary course. We are delighted to welcome PredictWind as a supporter of the 2026 race."
PredictWind DataHub Pro Prize Draw
As part of its support, PredictWind is offering a promotional prize comprising a DataHub Pro, an NMEA connection cable and a one-year PredictWind Professional subscription.
Enter the draw here
The PredictWind DataHub is designed to act as a central hub for a boat's GPS tracking, marine data and onboard communications. It can connect vessel information and communications systems while supporting functions including weather routing, GPS tracking, AI-generated polars and Over the Horizon AIS.
Over the Horizon AIS can provide compatible onboard navigation systems with AIS visibility beyond normal VHF range when the DataHub has a suitable internet connection. AI Polars use real-time boat data to learn a yacht's performance characteristics and create more personalised inputs for weather routing.
Lisa McDonald, PredictWind weather expert, best known as skipper of the all-female Amer Sports Too commented:
"The Round Britain and Ireland Race is a perfect example of why accurate forecasting, routing and reliable onboard information matter so much. The fleet will be racing through several distinct weather regions and around some of the most demanding coastlines in offshore sailing.
"PredictWind is excited to work with RORC, support the competitors and help followers understand the weather story as the race unfolds. The DataHub Pro gives any sailor the opportunity to experience how integrated boat data, tracking, AIS information and personalised polars can improve preparation and decision-making offshore."
Weather insight from Cowes to Muckle Flugga
With a fleet ranging from high-performance offshore yachts to smaller Corinthian entries and double-handed teams, the weather presentation will consider how the same system may affect competitors in very different ways.
Arnaud Monges will use PredictWind software and detailed weather maps to explain the principal forecast models, likely transitions and strategic weather features before the start.
Arnaud Monges commented:
"The Round Britain and Ireland Race is particularly complex because there is rarely one forecast that applies to the entire fleet. The fastest boats may reach a weather system before it changes, while smaller boats could experience a completely different situation several days later."
The aim of the presentation at the Round Britain and Ireland Race Skippers' Briefing
"It will be to give crews a clear picture of the major systems, the areas of greatest uncertainty and the features they should continue to monitor. During the race, we will then follow how those systems evolve, comment on the predicted conditions ahead and explain what they mean for the different groups around the course."
Also during North Sails Cowes Week, the PredictWind Team will be supporting the RORC Crew Party on Tuesday 4th August in aid of the Griffin Offshore Pathway. The PredictWind team will be at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse and will be happy to assist sailors racing at the bicentenary regatta.
The 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race starts from the Solent on Sunday 9 August. The Skippers' Briefing will take place at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse on Saturday 8 August.
For more information please go to: www.roundbritainandireland.rorc.org
PredictWind - www.predictwind.com