ISLE of Wight sailors Jeremy Waitt and Richard Palmer remain in contention to win at this year’s Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race.

In conditions described by Cowes yachtsman Waitt as “a brutal slog” as they contend with rough seas and strong, biting winds, the sailors were almost two-thirds of the way round, tackling Ireland’s north-west coast, this afternoon in Palmer’s JPK 10.10 Jangada.

Jangada, which began the RORC offshore series race from Wicklow head, took a clockwise course around Ireland’s testing coastline this week.

The two-handed crew has consistently been among the front runners, with race leaders changing on an hourly basis. 

Waitt said: “It’s tougher than all the Fastnet races we have done to date — by tough, I mean hard to sleep, eat and stay warm, even with seven layers on. 

“It’s also easy to slip or fall in such rough conditions.”