The Round Ireland is Ireland’s premier offshore yacht race, and the second longest race in the Royal Ocean Racing Club calendar and will visit wicklow on June 22nd. The Glenview Hotel and Leisure Club is located twenty minutes from Wicklow Towns sailing club.

The first race took place in 1980 with only sixteen boats. Since then, held biennially, the fleet has grown steadily, attracting a record 64 entrants from all over the world.

There are a number classes in IRC in which boats and their crews can compete. 2004 saw the launch of the “Two-handed Class” which has introduced a new level of competition for the more extreme sailor. The 2016 race saw the introduction of multihulls sailing under MOCRA rules. In the past, boats competing have ranged from a 98-footer former “round the world” maxi, to club boats one third the size, with all shades in between.