A round the island paddleboard race held to highlight plastic waste in the sea is to return to Bermuda.

The Devil’s Isle Challenge, organised by Plastic Tides, is will run from May 30 to June 3 and is designed to attract environmentalists from overseas.

An ocean conservation conference has been added to this year’s event, where leaders in conservation will make presentations.

Plastic Tides is also teaming up with Protect Blue for a series of workshops aimed at cutting the amount of plastic pollution.

Christian Shaw of Plastic Tides said: “The Devil’s Isle Challenge is a paddling event that brings people together in the heart of the Atlantic to learn and discuss sustainable solutions while having fun.

“Participants can race solo or in a relay, attend an awesome hands-on ocean conference with world-renowned speakers and help us raise money for a free youth paddling programme.

“The aim of the event is to raise awareness about solutions to plastic pollution and help cultivate the next generation of ocean stewards.”

Paddlers in the solo race will take on the 40-mile course around Bermuda which organisers claimed was “the world’s longest paddleboard race”.

The race, the third of its kind in Bermuda, is open to stand up paddleboards and surfskis.

The relay race will involve teams of four covering the same course. There are eight spots open for relay teams and tickets include a new Starboard All Star paddleboard for the team.

All participants will need is a back pack, leash, and paddle.

Solo paddlers are restricted to inflatables only.

Mr Shaw added: “In 2014 the Plastic Tides team’s first ever endeavour involved an 11 day circumnavigation of Bermuda to film an adventure documentary exposing the juxtaposition of rampant plastic pollution with unbelievable marine biodiversity.

“Bermuda is at the edge of the North Atlantic Gyre, so after every storm huge amounts of plastic debris ends up on the shoreline — painting an alarming picture of the gravity of single-use plastic pollution.”

Plastic Tides will supply a fleet of support boats.

Every paddler must have a hydration pack or water bottle and every participant is asked to raise $500.

Cash raised will go to Plastic Tide’s free paddling programme, SUP’r Kids Bermuda, and to ocean cleanup efforts on the island. For more information and to register, visit: https://devilsislechallenge.com.