A SEVERE weather forecast for the west coast on Thursday has prompted the organisers of the Round Britain and Ireland yacht race to reverse the course of the contest.
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.
As a result, the organisers hope that the fleet will be spared the worst effects of the anticipated “deep depression” and storm, which is expected to move in over the southwest coast from tomorrow evening and into Thursday.
Met Éireann head of forecasting Gerard Fleming said a “very active system” appeared to be approaching from the southwest, heading over the Celtic Sea towards Wales later this week.
Mr Fleming said it was expected to bring very heavy rainfall, which could in turn prompt a weather warning, but much would depend on the track of the system over the next 48 to 72 hours.
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 deep 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.
“By going east about, the boats will avoid the worst of the depression and the confused sea state, and will have far more shelter opportunities, as there will be several ports that the boats can go into should they decide to do so,” he said.
In mid-August 1979, 15 people lost their lives in the international Fastnet yacht race when it was hit by a freak summer storm which had not been forecast.
Many of the boats which encountered difficulties were unprepared for the conditions, with no VHF radios on board.