The Solo Grand-Slam

Starting in 1978 the Route du Rhum is the biggest and most famous transatlantic race in the world. Solo from St Malo to Guadeloupe, there will be a total of 124 skippers across 6 classes on the start line. Phil Sharp racing aboard Imerys Clean Energy will be racing in the most competitive fleet with a total of 53 Class40s.

Only once has Phil competed in this infamous race and he claimed victory winning the event a whole day ahead of second place. 12 years on it may just be a race against all odds. Imerys Clean Energy is now five years old and will be competing against several newer and faster designs, which can travel up to 1.5 knots faster in certain conditions. To fight for the cup it will require flawless navigation, endurance and top personal management pushing both man and boat to the limit for 2.5 weeks.

The Uniting

This prestigious Royal Ocean Racing Club event started back in 1976 and is a must amongst the serious offshore sailing community. Held every four years soon after Cowes Week, the race starts and finishes at the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, and does a complete tour of the Great Britain. Many great landmarks are passed and different weather extremes encountered en route that make this such a successful event.

World Record Opportunity: The race is an official world record route and the winner of the Class 40 division will have the opportunity to break the record if suitable weather conditions allow.

The Solo Showdown

This will be a third year for the rapidly growing Drheam Cup, a multi-class single-handed race which connects Brittany and Normandy.

This race offers skippers the second opportunity to qualify for the Route du Rhum, but importantly will represent the final showdown of solo preparation amongst the Class 40s prior to the transatlantic grand-slam.

The Battle of Channel

Starting and finishing in the Normandy city of Caen, the race integrates the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea. The event is usually windy, fast, and demanding over a 1,000 mile course in complex navigation zones, where tactics and game-playing are absolutely key.

Last year Phil and co-skipper Pablo Santurde won the race in a record-breaking time of 4 days, 11 hours 15 minutes and 50 seconds finishing 3 hours ahead of second place. To defend this race win for 2018 will, without a doubt, be the core objective.

The Solo Warm-Up

The first edition of the 1,000 mile return race from Sables d’Olonne and will provide a challenging kick-off to the season as a solo warm-up to a predominantly single-handed racing year that builds up to the fiercely competitive and infamous Route du Rhum race in November. Skippers will be provided the course route just days before the race, however, one option includes sailing to Fastnet Rock, which will no doubt be a cold and wet escape, typically with windy and chilly offshore conditions.

The last time Phil raced solo was in the 2016 Transat bakerly, making this race invaluable to test boat and skipper, allowing time before the Championship races to make any important developments.

*Route altered to a Gijon return due to unsafe weather