Volcano Race 2016: tomorrow the start of the long offshore race

The 2016 Volcano Race will start tomorrow from Gaeta, Italy, at 1 pm. Six maxis and five boats in the "offshore fleet" will compete in this year' 460 mile course sailing from Gaeta - 80 km northwest of Naples - south across the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Aeolian Islands, off northeast Sicily.
IMA member George David onboard Rambler will try to beat Igor Simcic' Esimit Europa 2 record established in 2014 (the slovenian maxi covered the course in 27 hours, 16 minutes and 44 seconds, a record that the 100ft boat was unable to better in 2015).
This year' Maxi fleet includes also Atalanta II, owner Carlo Puri Negri, hungarian Wild Joe, Swan 65 Shirlaf (ITA), Mylius 60 Fra' Diavolo (ITA), mini maxi racer/cruiser OZ (NED).

For the first time this year, the Volcano Race will also include a fleet of boats smaller than 18.2 m (not maxis), but with a minumum IRC rating of 1.102: Armonia (ITA, Bavaria 46), Hi-Fidelity (South Africa, Welbourne 46), Kuka-Light (SUI, Open 42), Phosphorus (GBR, Rodman 42), Roccabella (LAT, XP 44).