A mix of experienced and Corinthian shorthanded offshore racers started the Yachting Monthly Celtic Triangle Race from Falmouth on Sunday 8th June, with the final boats finishing in Kinsale in the early hours of 10th June 2025, where they were welcomed by the Kinsale Yacht Club. Yachting Monthly’s Jayne Toyne explained:

‘Leg one was the typical mixed bag of weather and sea state, delivered in typical Celtic Sea style, with short waves that slap you in the face without much warning. On J105 Jaldi, one green wave came aboard and deposited a very startled fish on our decks, before it swam aft and was flicked overboard.’

Mary Sturgess and Jayne Toyne sail J105 Jaldi out of Falmouth at the start of leg one of the YM Celtic Triangle race. Photo Jayne Toyne

Leg one was started by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club on the Pendennis line in calm conditions, but freshened significantly at the fleet crossed the Celtic Sea, with later boats battling through 25-knot headwinds and rough seas to reach the finish line off Kinsale, after sailing a distance of roughly 190 miles. The fastest boat took one day, three hours and 24 minutes, while the last boat in crossed the line after one day, 21 hours and 9 minutes. Leg one – full results.

Boats line up ahead of the start of Leg 1 of the Yachting Monthly Celtic Triangle Race at Pendennis Point, Cornwall on 8th June 2025.
Photo: Luke Williams

The winner of Class 1, double-handed JPK 1030 Il Corvo from the Netherlands, had a tricky first half, but went on to lead the fleet for the latter part of the leg, and to be the first boat over the finish line in a time of one day, three hours and 24 minutes.  

‘There were a lot of tired faces on arrival in Kinsale. Those that arrived earlier did so in thick fog and had to have faith in their electronics to navigate them to the cardinal mark finish line,’

said Jayne Toyne.

‘Those that arrived later were gifted clearing skies and a moonlit sea.’

Entering Kinsale at night having crossed the finish line of leg one in the YM Celtic Triangle race. Photo: Jayne Toyne

Skipper Roeland Franssens commented on the race: 

‘The start from Falmouth was lovely, and we were with the leading bunch coming around Lizard. In the UKDHOS series we are never really the leading boat, so before the race we were not really into expectations.

‘Game plan was to stay clear from Lizard, having had our moments when we becalmed behind the lighthouse, and stay outside the bay going to Lands End. The first call was a mistake, the group behind us went inshore and would already tack ahead which we did not anticipate. We knew the last miles could get a bit more sporty. Direction and speed were not very steady. It kept us awake as we had to keep doing the tweaks.

‘Thankfully the finish was in Irish style. In the last couple of miles we could see the cliffs coming out of the mist. Could it be more romantic? The welcome in Ireland was grand and fully to expectations. The first pints are in, while the fleet quickly arrived behind.’

J112e J’ouvert lines up ahead of the start of Leg 1 of the Yachting Monthly Celtic Triangle Race at Pendennis Point, Cornwall on 8th June 2025.
Photo: Luke Williams

Division two was won by David Butters and Ian Braham sailing their JPK 10.10 Joy, finishing in one day, three hours and 49 minutes.

The only Irish competitor Donal O’Halloran, racing to his home port of Kinsale, also achieved a great result, finishing 2nd in Class 2. Racing on his Sunfast 3200R2 Sunfire, he commented after finishing the race: 

‘As YMCTR virgins, my daughter Róisín and I were hugely excited about taking part in our first offshore double handed race and Leg 1 didn’t disappoint. After a gentle start we had a great tactical beat to Lands End before the fun and games started. 

‘Choosing not to take the inside route, we were swept by the tide far too close to that bloody big lighthouse – which is pretty scary in the pitch black. As a Dad to experience your daughter calmly take over and reassuringly navigate our way around it – without bailing out, as I thought we needed to do, was an experience I’ll never forget. I guess it’s moments and experiences like these that make short handed sailing so special.’

Division three victory was claimed at 22.30 by Gary Heward and Russell Hawkins aboard the Maxi 1100 AmyLou, in a time of one day, six hours and 10 minutes, followed ten minutes later by James Hardiman, singlehanding his Dehler 38 Elsa.

The last finisher was David Faucher aboard his Rustler 36 Ventura, who finished at lunchtime the the next day in a time of one day 21 hours and 9 minutes. Two boats retired from the leg, the Westerly Oceanlord Sulaco because of light airs and a foul tide around Lands End, where skipper Andrew Moncrieff motored cleared as far as Longships, before enjoying a ‘cracking sail close hauled across the Celtic Sea’,  and the Forgus 37 Strona Hoga, after conditions became particularly boisterous. 

Night watch on board J105 Jaldi

The harbour days are filled with social events, a historical tour of the town by KYC Vice Commodore Anthony O’Neill, brewery tours, as well as opportunities to repair damaged sails, sort faulty electrics and remedy mystery fuel leaks. Crews queued up for the services of the local marine electrician, while others leant each other sealant, spares and tools to help get all the boats ready for the next and longest leg of the race.

The Yachting Monthly Celtic Triangle race is the rebirth of a classic event first launched in 1984. Enthusiasm to see the event revived from the Solo Offshore Racing Club (SORC), the UK Doubehanded Offshore Series (UKDHOS), as well as several veteran ‘Triangleurs’, coalesced around the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and saw the event run again for the first time in seven years. It is an offshore race intended to be an informal and friendly as well as competitive event that is open to both serious offshore racers and cruising sailors dipping their toe into offshore passage making and racing for the first time. 

The three-legged course takes short-handed boats of at least 25ft, from Falmouth to Kinsale, a distance of approximately 190nm, from Kinsale to Tréguier (300nm), and finally Tréguier to Falmouth (110nm). The the second leg of the Celtic Triangle also acts as a qualifier for the Azores and Back Race (AZAB) 2027 entry.