The Round Britain Challenge is well underway with 10 UK boats and seven Dutch boats participating so far – or sheltering from gales.

After a party and a Parade of Sail in Southampton, and then again, after a delay for gales, in Plymouth, the fleet is now scattered along the south coast with the largest boat, pilot cutter Annabel J the furthest west.

She has just left Newlyn and has an AIS transponder so she can be tracked via live ships tracking sites such as www.marinetraffic.com.

Not all the boats can be tracked, though some of those without an AIS transponder are transmitting their position via Trackaphone – You can follow the boats and the various blogs via links on www.oga50.org where there is a new ‘combined map’ link fusing data on the position of the boats from all available sources.

The Old Gaffer Association’s (OGA’s) new historical travelogue website is following the progress of the fleet and illustrating its progress with fascinating stories from old accounts and images of the areas they pass. www.sailing-by.org.uk

After Annabel J the next cluster of gaffers weathered storm force 10 winds yesterday in Falmouth. No damage done though it was not an experience any would like to repeat.

Witch, Bonify, High Barbaree, Syene and Windbreker are hoping that if winds (still force 6 today) die down later they can get round the Lizard and perhaps even head on without stopping for Milford Haven – if conditions around Lands End allow.

North easterly winds are on the way so it is a race against time. Cine Mara is in Falmouth too but she has a mission to get to Cork so if all goes to plan she is branching out on her own and meeting up with the fleet again later in Dublin.

Further east again Dutch OGA member boats Leonora 3, Morgaine, Raven and Vlieter have been sheltering in Fowey.

Leonora 3 seems (via AIS) to be heading for Newlyn now, perhaps accompanied by others that we can’t see yet. Then Toucando, Peggy, Bonita, Moon River and Windflower are, we believe, waiting out the storms in Plymouth.

Last but not least is Cygnet of London in the Beaulieu River also waiting for conditions to move on.

Details of the itinarary can be found at www.oga50.org

(Images credit: Keith Allso)