SEVENSTAR ROUND BRITAIN AND IRELAND WARRIORS

North Sails Customers Dominate in the 2022 Round Britain and Ireland Race

The Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race, organized every four years by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, is one of the most challenging offshore races in the world. The 1,805-mile course includes: the Celtic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The 2022 edition brought unusual challenges with a high pressure system dominating the weather for the race. This resulted in a challenging, changeable and complex weather scenario for the 30 teams that set out on the race. Of the thirty teams many of them were short handed and double handed with several of the double handed boats dominating under IRC. North Sails UK newly appointed General Manager, Ian Walker, and race start commentator remarked: "This race will have tested the crews patience and resilience to the full and we are delighted to see North Sails once again dominating the podium places. Well done to everyone who stuck it out and finished this tough race". First to cross the finish line was Medallia, IMOCA skippered by Pip Hare, who took Line Honours in an elapsed time of 10 days 13 hours 23 minutes and 22 seconds, with North expert Kevin George onboard. The IMOCA Class was expected to be four boats, but with two teams not making the start line and Oliver Heer Ocean Racing having to retire due to an injured crew member, Medallia was the only IMOCA to finish the race. Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada, racing Two-Handed with Rupert Holmes, took the overall win of the 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race, as well as winning IRC Three and IRC Double Handed. After time correction Jangada won by only seven minutes and nine seconds. In percentage terms, just 0.03% in a race of 1,805 nautical miles. The top six teams in IRC Two were all racing Two-Handed. Bellino, which narrowly missed winning overall, was the class winner. Sun Fast 3600 Bellino had a very close battle for the entire race with JPK 1080 Mzungu!. Raced by Sam White and Sam North, Mzungu! suffered from a broken autopilot for several days, but did not let that get them down and finished second in class and third overall. Third in IRC Two and first Sunfast 3300 was Daniel Jones & Jon Tyrrell racing Wild Pilgrim. “We knew from the start that there would be a strong competition with boat-on-boat racing and that was a big reason for entering the race,” said Bellino’s Deb Fish. “We could see Mzungu! for 95% of the race. In that situation, for every mile you are looking for that extra inch, you have to short tack to stay in pressure or out of bad tide. It was great racing but also stressful; an absolutely cracking race.” North Sails customers filled the top 9 places in the results. We’re incredibly proud of the North-powered results and all of the teams for their amazing performances. A true test of will power, endurance and stamina, both of the sailors and their sails.