Intro:

The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race got underway in Cowes, England and Sidney Gavignet's multihull Musandam-OmanSail set off at record pace.

Script:

Finally they are off.... Following a 21-hour weather delay and a change of course, the 2014 Round Britain and Ireland Race began in the waters off the Isle of Wight.

The reason for the delay was the remnants of Hurricane Bertha that had battered the south coast of England.

But once they began to clear, the race could start although in a anti- clockwise direction, after organisers switched from the initial clockwise schedule.

Twenty-eight craft with crews from across the world are racing the 1800 mile route around the British and Irish coast.

For Abu Dhabi's highly-experienced British skipper Ian Walker, the 'Round Britain' is also an opportunity to cast his eye over the opposition. He'll be racing many of them in the "round the world" battle in identical boats.

The day started with the fleet heading east along the Solent in bright sunshine, with a stiff southwesterly wind and a positive tide.

The multi-hull entry Musandam-OmanSail, skippered by Frenchman Sidney Gavignet, averaged 30 knots from the start and raced away from the rest.

They have passed Lowestoft, the most easterly point of the United Kingdom and if they can maintain that pace, they will finish the race in two and a half days, smashing the course record.