AFTER almost a week's sailing, Isle of Wight sailors Jeremy Waitt and Richard Palmer completed this year’s Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race.

In conditions described by Cowes yachtsman Waitt as “a brutal slog” as they contended with rough seas and strong, biting winds, the sailors tackled 700 nautical miles around Ireland's rugged coastline in Palmer’s JPK 10.10 Jangada — finishing in Wicklow Harbour at 4.14am yesterday (Friday).

Jangada, which began the Irish classic offshore fixture from Wicklow on Friday last week, came in 22nd over the line from a strong field, achieving fifth in the IRC 6 two-handed class and seventh in both the IRC 3 and overseas classes.

Waitt and Palmer, who completed 117 nautical miles on the final day, had been a race leader at one stage and had remained in the IRC 3 leading pack throughout the race, with the lead constantly changing hands on an almost hourly basis. 

The colourful sailing spectacle, which attracted a significant international entry, was dominated weatherwise by unprecedented high pressure along its gruelling clockwise course.

North-east winds dominated the early part of the event — sometimes with very considerable strength, becoming north-westerly and then south-easterly towards the latter stages.

South-east of the line from Fair Head to Mizen Head, the conditions made for reasonably fair and manageable racing.

But north-west of that line, out along the Wild Atlantic Way, it was a slogging match, with competitors in a real battle until conditions improved.

It meant that at different stages, many boats had their moment in the sun, including Jangada, with Waitt commenting early into the event it had been tougher than all the Fastnet races he and Palmer had done to date.