Take your place on the start line of one of offshore sailing’s toughest races. The Round Britain and Ireland Race is a 2,000-nautical-mile, once-every-four-years challenge—and you’ll race it aboard a high-performance Volvo 60.

Joining as a fully participative crew member, you’ll first sail from Brittany to Cowes to prepare, train and gel as a team before the race start. From there, the course circles Britain and Ireland via iconic and demanding waypoints—Fastnet Rock, St Kilda and Muckle Flugga—before a fast, tactical return down the North Sea and through the Channel.

Life on board is intense and structured around a watch system, with constant sail handling, navigation and decision-making. This is a physically and mentally demanding race on a powerful, stripped-back yacht, supported by a professional crew.

Finishing is the goal.

Everything else is a bonus.

This is a race shaped entirely by conditions, competition and strategy. You’ll first join the yacht in Lorient, France, sailing to Cowes for final preparations and qualification. The race begins in the Solent on 9 August, heading west past the Needles into the Celtic Sea, rounding Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast via Fastnet Rock and Mizen Head.

From there, the fleet pushes north past the Hebrides to Muckle Flugga, the northernmost point, before turning south down the North Sea along England’s east coast. The final stages bring you back through the Channel and into the Solent. Exact timings, routing and conditions will vary—this is a complex offshore race with constant tactical decisions.