Forty-five yachts and their crews set out from the Solent on Friday evening for a 90 mile race to Brixham.

It's a return to the Devon coast in the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's racing calendar after a break of four years and forms part of the popular McGuigan Wines Double-Handed Series.

Captain of Racing, Kathy Smalley said: "The long offshore double-handed race has visited various destination during the last few years, but for 2007 we return to the ever-popular Brixham, where we know we always get a fantastic welcome.

"The weather forecast currently suggests light north-easterley winds, so it should be spinnakers all the way.The big question is how to avoid the foul tide at Portland. Is it best to go well offshore, or close inshore? We'll only find out which is the winning strategy when the results are announced in Brixham.'' The 90 yachtsmen set off from mid Solent on Friday evening for an overnight passage which should allow boats to reach Brixham in good time on Saturday.

The marina at Brixham is accessible at all states of the tide and provides good facilities.

Prizegiving and dinner on Saturday evening is to be held at the Brixham Yacht Club whose home is a converted sail-loft, and which provides panoramic views over the quaint working harbour and the coastlines of both Lyme Bay and Torbay.

Competitors return at leisure over the late August Bank Holiday or can use Brixham as a starting point for a cruise of the West Country.