Sidney Gavignet's MOD 70, Musandam - Oman Sail
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Paul Wyeth. Musandam - Oman Sail starting the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014

Azzam, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Volvo Ocean 65 skippered by Ian Walker
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Paul Wyeth. Abhu Dhabi, Volvo 65, starting the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014

On the bow of Azzam, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Volvo Ocean 65 skippered by Ian Walker
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Paul Wyeth. Azzam,Volvo 65, starting the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014

Volvo 65s SCA and Dongfeng pass through the forts.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Paul Wyeth. Volvo 65s rounding No Mans Land Fort

Volvo 65s SCA and Dongfeng pass through the forts.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Paul Wyeth. Volvo 65s rounding No Mans Land Fort,

IMOCA 60, Artemis - Team Endeavour
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Artemis - Team Endeavour follows Monster Project out of the Solent
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Relentless on Jellyfish, sailed by James George
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Palpatine, Stormforce Coaching's Stimson 42
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Alvimedica, the Charlie Enright skippered Volvo Ocean 65.
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

The Press helicopter follows the Volvo Ocean 65s
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Volvo Ocean 65, Azzam
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

At the helm of Azzam, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Volvo Ocean 65
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Dongfeng in hot pursuit of Azzam
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

SCA, the all-female Volvo Ocean 65 skippered by Sam Davies
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

The Volvo Ocean 65s set off into the horizon
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Scarlet Logic, Oyster 48 skippered by Ross Applebey
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Ross Applebey's Scarlet Logic
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Palpatine, skippered by Ifan James
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Stormforce Coaching's Palpatine, a Stimson 42
Credit: Hamo Thornycroft/www.yacht-photos.co.uk

Volvo 70 Monster Project and IMOCA 60 Artemis - Team Endeavour lead the IRC and Class40 fleets out of the Solent.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Brian Thompson's IMOCA 60, Artemis - Team Endeavour, and Andrew Budgen and Fred Schwyn's Volvo 70, Monster Project.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Sailing Logic and Ross Applebey's Oyster 48, Scarlet Logic, and Chris Radford's J/122, Relentless on Jellyfish.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Ned Collier-Wakefield's Class40, Concise8
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Burkhard Keese's Class40, Stella Nova, just behind Concise8.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Conrad Humphrey's Class40, Cat Phone.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Jens Kellinghusen's Ker 51, Varuna.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Jens Kellinghusen's Ker 51, Varuna.
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Volvo 65s SCA, skippered by Sam Davies, and Azzam, skippered by Ian Walker
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.

Sidney Gavignet's MOD 70, Musandam - Oman Sail
Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Credit: RORC/Rick Tomlinson. Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014. Strictly only editorial free usage for the promotion of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 and the Volvo Ocean Race in editorial publications and web site.