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Team RockIt conquer Round Britain and Ireland Race

Team RockIt take on Round Britain and Ireland Race

 

Double Olympic Gold medallist, Shirley Robertson, and world record-breaking solo round-the-world yachtswomen, Dee Caffari, teamed up to take on the 2022/23 UK double-handed offshore sailing season, culminating in the 1800nm Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race.

Dee and Shirley bring a powerhouse of sailing talent and expertise to this campaign. As the first woman to sail non-stop solo around the world, against the prevailing winds and currents Dee has since completed six circumnavigations. Her offshore racing career includes the Vendee Globe and two Volvo Ocean Races. After winning Olympic Gold in the Europe Class and then the Yngling keelboat, and forging a highly successful career as a TV and sailing media presenter, Shirley switched to offshore doubled-handed racing in 2021. Racing with Henry Bomby, the pair finished second in class in the Fastnet Race and in the UK Double Handed Offshore series.

Now racing their new Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 'RockIt’ together, the campaign for Dee and Shirley included the RORC offshore race series and culminated with the marathon 1800nm Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Since RORC introduced a double-handed class 12 years ago, only 9 out of 25 teams have finished.

The extensive 1800nm challenge is one that is not entered into lightly and makes for an unforgettable life experience. Before the due made their way out to the race start in The Solent, Shirley emphasized the unpredictability and nature of a race of this magnitude. Having a background in Olympic sprint racing, Shirley had moved into unchartered waters but under the guidance of one of the world's best ocean racers in Dee.

"We don't really know what is going to happen. But it is going to be amazing and it is like a once-in-a-lifetime trip," explained Shirley. "This race is going to be frustrating, it is going to be slow and we need to prepare ourselves for a long time at sea."

What met them was two weeks of hard racing, mental challenges, and never-ending strategical puzzles that would push them to their limits.

RELIVE THEIR JOURNEY

EPISODE 1

Go behind the scenes with British offshore legend Dee Caffari and double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson as they begin their sailing season campaigning in their new Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300.

EPISODE 2

Dee Caffari and Shirley Robertson continue preparations and race in their first offshore of the 2022 Series as they discuss their big plans for the end of season epic - the 1800Nm Round Britain and Ireland.

EPISODE 3

The Double Handed Offshore season continues for Dee Caffari and Shirley Robertson onboard their Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 'RockIt' - in this episode, we go behind the scenes with the accomplished sailing duo as they try and consolidate their considerable sailing skills into one overall package. The pair have brought in renowned sailing coach Nigel King to try and combine the solo offshore world and the Olympic world into a more effective racing outfit.

EPISODE 4

The Round Britain and Ireland Race draws ever closer, as Shirley Robertson and Dee Caffari continue preparations for this grueling 1,800 nautical mile double-handed adventure. In this episode, the duo continue to tune their sails with a night time lap of the Isle of Wight before taking part in the Cowes to St Malo Race.

EPISODE 5

The time has finally come as Dee Caffari and Shirley Robertson make the final preparations to their Sun Fast 3300 and take on the marathon 1800 nautical mile Round Britain and Ireland race. Only nine double-handed boats have ever completed this race non-stop, so it's a massive challenge for this new offshore team. In this race start episode, we go behind the scenes with the duo as they make ready the boat, before hitting the start line of this epic offshore challenge.

EPISODE 6

Get on board with Dee Caffari and Shirley Robertson as they battle the remaining 1,300 nautical miles around Britain and Ireland in their Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 RockIt - fully exclusive onboard action as the duo take on one of the toughest double-handed races there is!
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What Dee and Shirley are wearing

Throughout the 2022 double-handed season, Dee and Shirley will be facing a multitude of circumstances on the water with uncertain and ever-changing weather conditions. For this reason, the pair will be kitting themselves out with a range of offshore, inshore, mid layer and baselayer clothing. 

Their outer shells range the coastal CST500 range for the calmer conditions when they are looking to be more agile but still have some protection from the elements. As they make their way through the season and into more extreme conditions, Dee and Shirley will look to utilise their OFS800 and OFS900 ranges which will be able to protect them from the most treacherous of weather. The OFS800 with its eVent® Fabric construction and class-leading military-grade breathable membranes will be perfect while they are active on board the yacht.

Looking at their base and midlayer items, the pair will be warm, comfortable and UV protected in their Cell puffer jackets, thermal tops and bottoms, UVActive tops, adaptable shoes and seaboots, along with many other items.