The fleet congregating at the Royal Yacht Squadron line for the beginning of the race
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Catapult, Marc Glimcher's Ker 40 sailing well for Ireland
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

The fleet at the start of the offshore race
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Hooligan VII, Ed Broadway's Ker 40, leading Antix and the fleet up the northern coast
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Antix, Anthony O'Leary's Ker 39, sailing for Team Ireland
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

The fleet under a good breeze on the first leg to Shingles Buoy
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Nutmeg Sparkling Charter, Yeoman of Wight and GOA.
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Motivé, Eric Basset's Farr 30.
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Teasing Machine, the A 13 owned by Erik De Turkheim
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Anthony O'Leary's Ker 39, Antix, sailing strongly at the start of the offshore
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Anthony at the wheel of Antix, his Ker 39 sailing as part of Team Ireland
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Cutting Edge, the Ker 40 owned by Robert Lutener and sailing in GBR Red
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GBR Red competitor, Cutting Edge, owned by Robert Lutener
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Hooligan VII, crew working hard!
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Ed Broadway putting the lads on Hooligan VII to an inordinate amount of work
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Catapult, the Ker 40 sailing as part of the Irish Team, cruising past Hursts
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Teasing Machine, following Catapult closely past Hurst Castle
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Another of the Ker 40 fleet, Robert Lutener's Cutting Edge, sailing for GBR Red and enjoying a great first leg
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

The Press Boat chasing to keep up with Teasing Machine
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Ed Broadway's Ker 40, Hooligan VII at Hurst Castle
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Antix, Ker 39 owned by Anthony O'Leary at Hurst Castle
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Quokka 8 and Nutmeg Sparkling Charter keep close together as they pass Hurst Castle
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Zephyr, sailing for Team Scotland, sailed by Steve Cowie
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Ino, Corby 36 owned by James Neville, had a good race, finishing in 8th position for GBR White
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

The Corby 36, INO, owned and sailed by James Neville
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A sneak peek through the Needles at the oncoming yachts
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The iconic Needles Lighthouse, a distinctive part of the course
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Antix, enjoying another good leg past the Needles and down to the most southerly point of the course
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Quokka 8, Michael Boyd and Niall Dowling's Grand Soleil 43
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com

Localletterbox Zero II, the Cowes Race School boat sailed by James Gair in GBR White
Credit: Rick Tomlinson/www.rick-tomlinson.com