Nigel Colley, 49, from Lymington, Hampshire and David Bowdler, 53, from Stromness, Orkney will set sail around Britain and Ireland in aid of international sight-saving charity ORBIS.

The competitive sailors have both been sailing since childhood and are hoping this two-handed race around some of the UK and Ireland’s most stunning coastline will be one of their most memorable races yet.

Nigel is the Managing Director of Sea Ventures (UK) Ltd, a leading yacht retailer, and has provided “Fastrak VII”, a Jeanneau Sun Fast 3200 racing yacht. The duo will leave Plymouth on Sunday. Depending on conditions, the race will take between three and four weeks to complete.

They will race clockwise around Great Britain and Ireland, with compulsory stops of 48 hours at Kinsale, Barra, Lerwick and Lowestoft. It is always a terrific test of endurance and seamanship, and not for the faint hearted.

Nigel says; “I am looking forward to building on the success of previous races in this year’s Round Britain and Ireland Race.  This and supporting the inspiring work of ORBIS is set to make this a great race all round.

“Sea Ventures is partnering ORBIS for this event and we want to raise both awareness of our chosen charity and, we hope, some funds to support a charity that really change’s people’s lives dramatically by providing quality eye care to very poor communities.”

David says; “This is my first Round Britain and Ireland Race and I am enormously looking forward to the challenge of this classic race and to raising the profile of ORBIS and the work they do to improve eye care around the world.”