Could a virtual Volvo Open 70 sailing in real time, in real weather and in the same waters beat the circumnavigation of the island of Ireland 704 nautical mile Round Ireland course record of 65 hours, 48 minutes and 47 seconds set by Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard 3 in Wicklow Sailing Club’s Round Ireland Yacht Race 2008?
The inaugural Virtual Round Ireland Yacht Race 2009 was designed to answer that question. The virtual sailing race is underway and the arrival of the back markers in Galway is awaited.
The challenge started at 14:00 UTC/GMT, 15:00 Local Time Galway or 16:00 CEST on Saturday 06 June 2009, i.e. at the same time as the start of Leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race. So did a virtual Volvo Open 70 break Leopard 3's Round Ireland record? Click on the logo above to go directly to the online dedicated race website to find out:
