Yet another record has been set in the 2016 Volvo Round Ireland by US Maxi yacht Rambler 88. It took US businessman George David and his 19-strong crew just 50 hours 24 minutes and 09 seconds to complete the 704 mile course around the island of Ireland.
The yacht crossed the finish line in Wicklow at 24 minutes and nine seconds past 3pm today (Monday 20th June 2016), breaking the previous 2008 monohull record set by ICAP Leopard by 15 hours, 24 minutes and 38 seconds.
This spectacular new record follows the incredible multihull record set less than 12 hours before by the sultanate of Oman’s flagship trimaran Musandam-Oman when they smashed their own 2015 sail speed around Ireland record by 2 hours, 14 minutes and 50 seconds.*
The fact that it was George who set the new record was particularly meaningful as it was as a tribute to the Irish Rescue services who saved his life in 2011 that he took the decision to sign up for the race.
George’s 100 foot yacht, Rambler 100, capsized during the 2011 Fastnet Race. Following a dramatic air and sea rescue by the Baltimore RNLI and the Irish Coastguard, George vowed that he would one day return to Ireland to compete in the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race as a tribute to the people of Ireland.
Although Rambler has set a new speed record, they are not automatically the overall race winner as this is decided on handicap, although their exceptionally fast time makes them extremely hard to beat.
