As the clock counts down to Sunday’s 19:00CET start the crews are anticipating a strategic and physical 500-plus mile race. After a short leg to show off the multihulls in front of spectators in Armor, the fleet will head for La Roche Gautier to the north-east of the island of Brehat, before leaving Sark in the Channel Islands to port.
The multihulls’ bows will then turn towards Finistère and the Grande Basse de Portsall cardinal mark, before the crews set off across the English Channel to round the mythical Wolf Rock lighthouse.
From there it is an ultra-technical race due east along England’s south coast towards the Isle of Wight, managing the numerous headlands and tidal gates all the way to the entrance of The Solent, with the Pro Sailing Tour reserving the right to shorten the course at The Needles off the Isle of Wight, depending on the weather conditions.
“We’re really looking forward to the offshore to Cowes,” said Goodchild. “I started my offshore sailing career there at the Artemis Offshore Academy in 2010-11, so it will be good to go back there with my own project and to sail in the Solent again – I’m looking forward to it!“
A cannon fired at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes will greet the winners, and all crews will receive a warm welcome from the Royal London Yacht Club and the Cowes Harbour Commission on their expected arrival at midday on Tuesday.