The Route

Leaving Southampton on 30 May 2004, the fleet races around Great Britain & Ireland in a clockwise direction. Once in the English Channel the fleet race along the English coastline, before crossing the Irish Sea towards the notorious Fastnet Rock. Once around the Rock, the fleet face the full force of the Atlantic Ocean as they head up toward St Kilda, one of the most western outposts of the UK, then on to Muckle Flugga on the northernmost tip of the Shetland Islands, at almost 61° north.

Sailing 1800 miles
From there it's south again passing between the numerous oilrigs stationed in the North Sea. Once around East Anglia the fleet hug the coast as they pass the Thames Estuary and then make their way in to the English Channel, tacking as they work their way between the coast and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Finally the fleet return to the Solent to a heroes' welcome in Southampton, after sailing 1800 miles of some of the most challenging ocean racing in the world.