A lot of us have heard of the quadrennial AZAB Race – a classic short-handed test in the north Atlantic from Falmouth to the Azores and back. But not so many know of its alternate – the Yachting Monthly Celtic Triangle Race.
Like the AZAB, this goes back a long way and, like the AZAB, it was originally organised by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club in Falmouth. The first race set sail from Carrick Roads in 1984 bound for stopovers in Ireland and then Brittany, before returning to Falmouth.
It then moved to the Royal Torbay Yacht Club which ran it every two years from 1986 until 2018. And then it lost its way. Cancelled in 2020 because of Covid, the race never got off the ground in 2022 and looked to be heading for the scrap heap. Until, that is, Royal Cornwall member Jonathan Money and others decided to revive it.
A well known west country yachtsman, Money had originally been drumming up entries for the next AZAB in 2027 and had been talking to the Solo Offshore Racing Club (SORC) and the UK Double-Handed Offshore Series (UKDHOS) about that race. But both expressed interest in doing the Triangle rather than the AZAB and Kate Cope at UKDHOS was particularly enthusiastic about its revival, saying the race could be included in the UKDHOS 2025 calendar as part of its annual points series. SORC followed suit in that respect.
“Talking to Kate, she said why don’t you revive the Triangle? I thought ‘why not?’” recalled Money. “So I phoned Yachting Monthly and the Royal Torbay who said they didn’t want it at all. Yachting Monthly said that if we took it on they would support us. The next thing we know we’ve got an event and it’s back under the auspices of the Royal Cornwall.”
This year’s race, which sets sail next weekend (Sunday June 8th), features a 600-nautical mile course, starting with a 190-mile leg from Falmouth to Kinsale in Ireland. After a three-day stopover hosted by the Kinsale Yacht Club, leg two is a 300-mile stage to Treguier in Brittany from where, after another three-day stopover, the race returns with a 100-mile third stage to finish in Falmouth.
Because of limited space in Treguier marina, the entry is limited to 40 boats and currently there are 38 listed in three IRC classes. They feature a range of monohulls, from 30-40ft, with everything from high performance designs like the Sunfast 3200s and 3300s or the Farr X2, to older boats like Sigma 36s, Rustler 36s and Dehler 38s.
For the first time in its history, the race is open to solo as well as double-handed crews, something that has been a little contentious with some of the race’s traditional supporters. “I’ve taken a bit of heat for changing it,” said Money, who is the race director. “When we re-started it, we treated it as a new event and with the promised support of two groups in the Solent in the SORC and UKDHOS. A lot of the people formerly involved were not happy about including single-handers, but I told them the race had been dead in the water and we’ve brought it back to life. I also explained that we’re open to hearing from other classes in future years and want to make this a race for all."
The entry fee is £650 for single-handers and £950 for double-handed crews, a charge which Money believes is excellent value given that it includes 10 nights in three different marinas, plus all the entertaining at the stopovers which will each hold prize-giving dinners. He said the appeal for the Solent based owners in particular is that this race will not fit the pattern of typical RORC races when you sail a course, dip the finish line and then go home.
“What they really like about this race is the fact that we are going to be in Kinsale for three days, then race from there to Treguier and be there for three days and then race home,” explained Money. “We have a dinner in the clubhouse in Falmouth on Saturday 7th before we leave, then another one at the yacht club in Kinsale, while at Treguier the mayor is rolling out a hog roast in a place that has been the French home of the race for years, so that’s likely to be the highlight of the event. Then they come back to Falmouth and have a final prize giving and lunch before dispersing.”
In the past, June has produced some awful weather for this race and Money says he is prepared to delay the start if weather conditions require it. “I will take decisions based on the forecast and talking to the competitors,” he said.
It sounds like Money and his team on the race committee have got this old contest – which is now sponsored by Hyde Sails and Penrose Sails – back on its feet. Money is hopeful but not certain that it will happen again, even if that might not be until 2029. He points out that getting it back on track from a standing start has involved a huge amount of work and a great deal of energy spent dealing with the political side of the project. “Our vision is that the race will continue to run every four years and continue to act as a qualifier for the AZAB,” he said. “And of course to help us continue to grow it and open it to a wider audience, we are seeking a title sponsor for 2029, as well as partners who can help us grow the competitor base."
Let’s hope they have a classic this time round, the race produces a worthy overall winner and all the crews successfully complete the long second stage to Brittany which acts as a qualifier for the AZAB in two years time.
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