Ross Hobson’s preparation for this year’s 2 Handed Round Britain and Ireland race is in the final phases with the boat Netergy.com Challenge being sailed to Plymouth this coming weekend.

The racing trimaran Netergy.com Challenge (nee Mollymawk) designed by Nic Bailey and built by Rowsell and Morrison for the 1988 Single Handed Transatlantic Race, has undergone an extensive refit this winter with a new carbonfibre mast, electronics and paint job.

Ross will be renewing his successful partnership with Bill Minto who he has competed in numerous peaks races with, including the record breaking 2000 Tunnock’s Scottish Islands Peaks Race. Bill and Ross competed in the 1993 2 Handed Round Britain and Ireland race in a 26ft monohull – Livewire. The boat was the smallest in the race, winning the Henri-Lloyd trophy.

According to Ross Hobson who spoke to Yachting World this morning, the boat is being sailed to Plymouth this weekend. And with the forecast of a fresh breeze from the south-east, the boat’s going to experience ‘a real good thrashing’ in preparation for the 9 June 2 Handed Round Britain and Ireland race start.