A low-pressure system forecast to arrive in the south of Ireland on Thursday has caused the Round Britain and Ireland Race organisers to reverse the course for safety reasons.

The race, which started yesterday from the Isle of Wight in gusts of up to 30 knots, is taking an anti-clockwise course round Britain first and then Ireland.

Royal Ocean Racing Club commodore Andrew McIrvine said that the course had been changed out of consideration for the competitors.

The club’s weather adviser Mike Broughton expected that the forecast depression could bring wind speeds of up to 50 knots.

The sea state would become “very confused” as the wind direction changed by 180 degrees. “Although the boats are very well prepared, these conditions could cause damage and retirements and the west coast of Ireland has very few places offering shelter,” he said.

Read the full story here: http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/496806/round-britain-and-ireland-race-runs-from-the…

This morning Alain Thébault, founder and pilot of the Hydroptère project and Jean-Mathieu Bourgeon, scientific manager of the project, accompanied by their Design Team, unveiled their new prototype, l’Hydroptère.ch, a 35ft catamaran at the Decision SA shipyard in Ecublens (Switzerland) which will soon be launched on Lake Geneva.

The programmes led by the Hydroptère team are scientific and technological projects, whose purpose is to revolutionize the world of sailing and further develop the innovative concept of flying boats.

In 2009, l’Hydroptère, the 60ft trimaran, became the fastest sailing craft in the world when she beat two absolute sailing speed records i.e. 51.36 knots (95 km/h) over 500 metres and 50.17 knots (93 km/h) over one nautical mile. These are milestones in the history of sailing.

l’Hydroptère.ch follows the same principle. As a trial lab, she will help conceiving l’Hydroptère maxi whose purpose is to beat the most famous oceanic records and to follow Jules Verne’s vision: Flying around the planet.

Three boats to attempt all major records: Pure speed, Atlantic crossing, Pacific crossing and circumnavigation.

Read the full story here: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153496