Azores and Back Yacht Race (AZAB)
The Azores and Back Race - 6th June, 2027
AZAB (The Azores and Back Race) is a Category 1 ocean yacht race consisting of two legs, each spanning 1,170 nautical miles, even if the rhumb line can be sailed.
This race was established in 1975 by Colin Drummond of the RCYC to fulfil the need for a UK-based ocean race that both starts and finishes in the UK. It has been held every four years since then, catering to a wide range of participants, from seasoned racers on high-performance vessels to local cruisers seeking a new challenge.
AZAB races feature five starts for Multihulls, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4, irrespective of being single or double-handed. Wind direction & strength in 2023 resulted in previous records being broken for the fastest passage on both legs – 4 days, 21 hours, 17 minutes, 48 seconds on the way out and 4 days, 11 hours, 33 minutes, 38 seconds for the return leg, both achieved by Will Claxton & Craig Brown in Superbigou, a Custom Imoca 60.
Pete Goss and 'DMS Vinyl'
The world renowned sailor, Pete Goss MBE, is competing in the 2027 AZAB race. He first came to global prominence during the 1996-97 Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race, when he turned back into a Southern Ocean storm to rescue fellow competitor Raphaël Dinelli from a life raft – sailing more than 100 miles into hurricane-force conditions. In recognition of his actions, he was awarded France’s Légion d’Honneur, appointed MBE by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and named World Sailor of the Year.
Pete Goss is not only competing in the race, but also supporting Falmouth’s Azores and Back race team with ambitious plans to evolve the 2027 AZAB Challenge into a more outward-facing, community-powered and sponsored event – which stays true to its Corinthian roots.
“I’ve always wanted to compete in the AZAB – it’s one of Britain’s few remaining true ocean races and a uniquely Cornish event,” says Pete. “What’s exciting about 2027 is the opportunity to build on that and connect it directly with our local communities – so AZAB is not just something people watch, but something they feel part of.”
Image: Pete Goss and Dave Summers in their new Cornish-built Dazcat ‘DMS Vinyl’ © Mark Lloyd / www.lloydimages.com
School and Community Engagement
Every sailor knows you cannot choose the wind—but you can choose how you respond to it.
Success at sea comes from understanding the conditions, working as a team and making the most of every opportunity. The same is true in life.
Where the Wind Blows is AZAB 2027’s education and community programme, delivered in partnership with My Future, My Choice. It uses the excitement of ocean racing to help young people develop confidence, creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills while introducing them to the wide range of careers and opportunities available in Cornwall’s marine and maritime industries.
Working alongside volunteers from local businesses, pupils will design and build cardboard pond yachts before racing them in Falmouth Harbour on the eve of AZAB’s spectacular start. Each school will then be linked with an AZAB yacht, meeting the skipper, stepping aboard before the race begins and following their crew’s progress across the Atlantic.
Like the sailors they support, the children will discover that success isn’t about waiting for the perfect conditions—it’s about recognising opportunities, adapting with confidence and making the most of where the wind blows.
If you would like your business to provide volunteers or sponsorship for the programme, please contact us
