Final Preparations in Cowes as Weather Takes Centre Stage

Arnaud Monges PredictWind © Rick Tomlinson/RORC

The final day before the start of the 2026 RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race brought the fleet together in Cowes for a busy programme of preparation, briefings and a packed Crew BBQ at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse.

RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race © Rick Tomlinson/RORC

Throughout Saturday, boats continued to arrive in Cowes as competitors completed registration with the RORC Race Team, safety inspections and the final jobs before taking on the 1,800-nautical-mile non-stop course around Britain and Ireland.

By late afternoon attention moved ashore, with skippers and crews gathering at the clubhouse for the official Skippers Briefing before PredictWind weather expert Arnaud Monges delivered a detailed analysis of the conditions expected during the opening days of the race.

Arnaud Monges - PredictWind © Rick Tomlinson/RORC

With the Sun Fast 3600 the most numerous design in the fleet, Monges used the boat’s performance polars to demonstrate how the developing weather systems could influence the race. His routing analysis suggested a particularly tactical opening phase, beginning with very light conditions around Cowes. The forecast indicated a light southerly sea breeze around the start, with approximately five knots close to the line and potentially more breeze as the fleet races east around the Isle of Wight.

Later on Sunday, a westerly gradient of around 10-20 knots is expected to establish, producing upwind conditions as the fleet works its way out of the English Channel. During the first night, that breeze is forecast to turn north-westerly as an area of high pressure approaches.

The briefing also highlighted the importance of the tidal transition during the opening hours. The current is expected to run west-to-east from around the start, strengthening through the afternoon before reversing during the evening. Monges warned that the developing westerly wind against the opposing current could create an uncomfortable short sea and increased vertical acceleration during the first night.

Further ahead, conditions could change substantially. High pressure is forecast to bring lighter and more variable winds on Monday before a low-pressure system develops to the west. By Tuesday, the forecast shows southerly winds building along the Irish coast, potentially reaching 20-25 knots, with a rising sea state as the fleet heads north.

For the Sun Fast 3600 routing model, PredictWind indicated a passage of roughly 9-11 days, with an average boat speed around 7.5 knots. Most of the race was modelled in winds between 8 and 20 knots, although uncertainty naturally increases further into the course.

After the briefings, more than 150 sailors and supporters filled the RORC Cowes Clubhouse for the Crew BBQ, providing one final opportunity to compare notes, catch up with fellow competitors and talk through the challenge ahead.

Today, the talking stops and the racing begins. The RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race 2026 starts at 13:30 BST Sunday 09 August.