BKA Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race Campaign 

The British Keelboat Academy (BKA) National Squad have announced their intention to enter the 2010 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race in August.

The academy sailors will compete on the TP52, John Merricks II, with the full team set to be announced in early July.   

The race, seen as one of keelboat racing’s toughest challenges, will start at Cowes on Monday 23rd August and with the likes of Mike Slade’s super maxi ICAP Leopard and the Slovenian and Austrian racing teams Volvo Ocean 70, E1, already having signed up, the event is shaping up to provide a fantastic opportunity for the sailors to get a real taste of top level international competition and the demands associated with it.

RYA Racing Manager and one of the BKA’s Directors, John Derbyshire comments; “The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race is one of the biggest events on the keelboat racing calendar and I expect several top campaigns in the UK take part. The experiences and subsequent lessons learnt by the sailors selected to compete at the event will be invaluable to their future racing careers and with the BKA’s efforts centred around the motto it’s what you know not who you know, it’s these experiences that will really help the sailors make gains in their sailing and help them step up to the next level of competition”.

With just 13 places available on John Merricks II, competition to sail at the event will be tight and this weekend’s Myth of Malham race will present the first real opportunity for sailors to make their bids for selection.

The sailors need to raise extra funds to enable them to make all their plans happen for the race. To find out more about the sailors campaign and pledge your support visit www.johnmerricksii-rbi.co.uk .