After a 24 hour delay The Round Britain and Ireland Race eventually set off in blazing sunshine, violent downpours and gale Force 8 winds.

With Hurricane Bertha still stuck on their sterns, and a positive tide, the racing fleet of 28 were sent east down the Solent at incredible speeds.

The Yachting Monthly rib running parallel with Oman Sail Musandam, a MOD70, clocked her a 40knots as she flew passed Ryde. ‘If she keeps up that speed she’ll finish the race in two and a half days and smash the course record’ said a RORC race official.

It was after the bad weather delay that organisers changed passage direction and sent the fleet off to cover the 1800 miles around the wrong way.

One of the smallest cruisers competing in the race is Rare, a pink coloured 10 metre Figaro 11. She’s two handed and skippered by Ian Hoddle.