The BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race kicks off this Saturday and with some
very unusual conditions, including warm sunshine and record high
temperatures at the start.

Yacht racing weather guru, Mike Broughton navigated J/145 Jazz to class
victory in the 2004 race and his prediction is for very different
conditions to the memorable gales last time out, Mike Broughton commented;

“This race is always a difficult one for a weather forecaster and things
can change right at the last minute but as I see it, there is a ridge of
high pressure extending all the way across from Scandinavia to Dublin and
this should induce light southerly winds on Saturday afternoon of 5-11
knots possibly enhanced by sea breezes, the wind may well back to the east
for an unusual spinnaker run of 12-16 knots to the Fastnet Rock.”