This 600-mile ocean yacht race to South west Ireland and back is the major event of the Admiral's Cup competition. This year's race, as ever, will be hazardous and fiercely contested.
The inside story is told by the crews who take part - including the British team, led by The Prime Minister in Morning Cloud, with Arthur Slater in Prospect of Whitby and Bob Watson in Cervantes.
Full coverage from some of 200 boats in the race, observer boats along the route and from the air.
(BBC South production: from Southampton)