Following the excitement and drama of the Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix series finale in Rotterdam in June, when Team Basilica eventually finished as series runners-up to the American boat Tommy Hilfiger, the all-British crewed, sponsored and owned boat is looking to go one better next week as they return to competition at Skandia Cowes Week.

Three of the five Extreme 40s from the Volvo series, including both British boats – Basilica and Conrad Humphries Racing (CHR), will take to the waters around the Isle of Wight for four days of Grand Prix style racing to contest the ‘Red and Blue Recruitment Cup’. In between, the boats will also attempt once again to break the ‘Round the Island’ record.

The ‘Extreme 40’ racing, which captivated so many people on the Sanxenxo, Rio, Baltimore, Portsmouth and Rotterdam stopovers of the Volvo Ocean Race, are likely to draw in big crowds at Cowes, as the fastest catamarans on the water race from 1600-1900 on Monday 31 July and Wednesday 2 – Friday 4 August. The ‘Round the Island’ record is scheduled for 1300 on Tuesday 1 August, when Team CHR will be joined by Hollywood actor Jeremy Irons for the attempt.