For the first time, RORC set an entry limit of 300 boats. Due to a severe weather warning from the UK Met Office, the start was delayed for a day – the first time in the race’s history. When the forcing numerous retirements, most doing so before leaving the English Channel. Of the starting fleet, less than a quarter finished the race.
For those that stayed the course, there was fast sailing indeed: Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard set a new monohull record of 1 day, 20 hours, and 18 mins at an average speed of 13.52 knots. George David’s Rambler also broke the previous record by some 8 hours. The Irish Cookson 50, Chieftain, won overall.
