FOR the next three weeks Pip Hare and Phil Stubbs will sleep for just two hours a day, dine on freeze-dried food and battle the elements as they sail around Britain and Ireland in a gruelling and often unpredictable race.

The pair of die-hard yachters are competing in the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race 2010, which starts in Plymouth on Sunday.

The race, which takes place every four years, does exactly what it says on the tin; encompassing Ireland and the British Isles, including the Shetlands. “The British Isles is one of the toughest places to sail in the world,” says Pip, as we enjoy a cup of tea on her boat, The Shed.

“The problem with this race is that the weather is so variable it makes a massive difference to your time.”

If conditions are too calm, skipper Pip and co-skipper Phil, won’t be going anywhere fast. However, if the weather is too rough the pair will endure an uncomfortable journey.

“In really rough conditions the water gets inside and our sleeping bags get soaked,” says Pip.

That’s a grim prospect, particularly as they’re only likely to get a couple of hours kip ever day.

“While we’re sailing sleep is usually taken in 30 minute blasts,” says Pip, who met Phil when she was crewing on another boat nine months ago. “Two hours is a long sleep.”

She notices my face crease up.

“From our point of view it’s not a jolly, we’re pretty serious otherwise we’d be stopping at all the distilleries en route,” she laughs.

Although there’s a shower onboard, they won’t bother having one while they’re racing.

“It wastes too much time,” shrugs Pip. A professional sailor for 16 years, Pip not only races her yacht but lives onboard, as she has done for eight years.

“This is my home, this is everything I’ve got,” says Pip, who jokes that she is “currently based in Parkstone Marina.”

Although she admits the trip will be gruelling, she certainly has the experience for it.

“Last year I single handedly sailed across the Atlantic,” she says. “I’ve also sailed single handedly from Uruguay to Britain.”

Pip estimates that she has sailed over 70,000 miles, including a trip across the Pacific.

“I’d love to do it again,” she says casually.

Phil meanwhile, who is a quantity surveyor in Bournemouth, has also completed some epic journeys.

“It’s something I used to do with my old man and it’s gone from there really,” he says, as the sun spills across Parkstone Marina.

Over the years Phil has completed an Atlantic crossing, a plethora of cross-channel races and the demanding Fastnet Race, which takes place every two years and covers 608 nautical miles. Mercifully Phil and Pip will have to make four compulsory stops of 48-hours each, which will give them a chance to rejuvenate.

“The 48-hours will be spent repairing the boat, drying it out and banking sleep,” explains Pip.

As we sit in the small cabin below deck, I ask how confident they are feeling.

“If we get some breeze there is no reason why we shouldn’t be pretty competitive – it will be all Phil’s fault if we don’t,” jokes Pip.

“Having said that I’ll probably get it wrong and Phil will beat me to death with an oar.”

Pip and Phil will be blogging every day of their journey, to follow their progress visit rwyc.org and navigate to their blog.