Monohull and multihull record holders enter Round the Island Race
by Peta Stuart-Hunt, ISC Race Press Officer 11 Jun 2012 15:58 BST
30 June 2012
IDEC during the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2009 © Ian Roman /
www.ianroman.com
The Island Sailing Club, organisers of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, welcomes back the Race monohull and multihull record holders this year, both of whom are returning to defend their titles.
Alongside the terrific news that ICAP Leopard's owner Mike Slade is returning to defend the monohull record set in this stunning Farr 100 sloop at a time of 3 hrs 53 mins 05 secs in 2008, comes the equally exciting confirmation that Francis Joyon is racing his bright red Maxi Multihull IDEC with a determination to beat, and at the very least retain, his multihull record of 3 hrs 08 mins 29 secs set in 2001. You can follow their progress via the home page of the Race website at www.roundtheisland.org.uk.
Coming of age
Robert Veale is racing his beautiful 1958 Bermudan sloop Danegeld in the Classic Yacht class. She has an interesting provenance which you can read about here www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/register/Danegeld.htm.
Just to whet the appetite, in 1960, members of the Island Sailing Club each paid £1 to freight Danegeld from the Royal Docks in London to Bermuda aboard the Royal Mail freighter Ebro together with RNSA yacht Belmore to take part in the Bermuda Race. After five days of heavy winds and rough seas Danegeld, the smallest boat in the race, finished as second foreign boat on corrected time. Danegeld then sailed in the Transatlantic race to Marstrand in Sweden with Belmore. Both races were recorded by Belmore’s skipper Errol Bruce in his book: “When the Crew Matter Most” while Danegeld crewman Mike Henderson made an 8mm film of the Atlantic crossing which is occasionally aired at the Island Sailing Club.
Peter Bainbridge from Romsey, Hampshire is 70 years young and first entered the Race in 1965, completing it 20 times, including winning the Gold Roman Bowl in 1991 on his Folkboat Periwinkle. This year he's competing on Sky Hunter II, a cruising J/122.
Max Crowe from Lymington, Hampshire will helm Redeye, a 21ft Dehler Sprinter Sport. Max has proven himself to be a competent sailor from a very young age and has risen through the ranks of the RYA National Junior Squad and the Cadet World Team in 2010. He will be accompanied by 14 year crew Alex Philpott and 40 year old David Jarrett, who might just be feeling his age with these nimble young things taking control!
Family values
One feature of the entries into the Round the Island Race that has stood out especially clearly this year is the high volume of family crews racing and, in particular, the numerous father and son combinations. At a glance, the entries reveal at least 30 crews comprising fathers and their sons and many more featuring families racing for the JPMAM Family Trophy.
It's a well-known fact that Britain's favourite yacht race attracts sailing enthusiasts of all ages and from all walks of life; it's the very nature of the immense variety of boats and people that make this Race so very special.
The 36-year old Prospero, a Prospect 900, was inherited by 39-year old twins Charlie and Richard Divall when their father passed away four years ago. They have raced on her since they were six years old in Wales. This is the first time the pair have entered the Round the Island Race and Charlie says that their father would be extremely proud that she (and they) are competing.
Outstanding Seamanship Award
Each year a panel of judges awards the Nautica Outstanding Seamanship Award for an act of extraordinary seamanship taking place on the day of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. The Award is made to the person who has been nominated and whom the selection panel agrees has shown an act of seamanship as part of the Race. This can be for anything and anybody involved in the Race, not just the competitors. If anyone sees, or is involved in, anything resulting in somebody giving or doing something significant then you can nominate them for the Award. Just email your nomination to the Island Sailing Club following the Race and it will be put before the panel for consideration.
Roll up, roll up for the Village People!
The Race Village, situated in Cowes Yacht Haven, will be open from midday on Friday 29th June.
Exhibitors and activities are very wide-ranging and include:
J.P. Morgan Asset Management, the title sponsor of Ben Ainslie. Ben’s Finn Rita will be on display in the Regatta Village during the Race weekend. Ben will be on hand to meet local students on Friday morning before taking part in a public Q&A session on Saturday after racing, J.P. Morgan also sponsors the music stage and bands, with an exciting line up confirmed for 2012.
Sail for Gold Exhibition
In association with the RYA, the Sail for Gold exhibition will be on display for the whole Race weekend in the Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in 112 years of triumph and glory at this extraordinary exhibition celebrating Britain’s unique Olympic and Paralympic sailing heritage.
Timex have a marquee with a grinding competition as well as displaying and selling watches and other Timex products.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World have a stand in Cowes Yacht Haven with special deals for signing up to the Club. There's a raffle to win a 5 nights holiday in one of their luxury hotels.
Henri Lloyd has a large stand selling official Race merchandise and Ben Ainslie products as well as technical items. A life size model of Ben will be on display for anyone to have their photo taken with. Photos will be posted on Henri Lloyd's Facebook page and the most 'liked' image will win a prize.
Haven Knox-Johnston are holding a timed competition where competitors will need to inflate a fender, put a sock over it, hang it up and place three flags in the correct order to say “HKJ”.
Old Pulteney will be promoting their very popular and delicious whisky and doing free tastings!
Raymarine is well known for providing the all-important Race Weather Briefing at the Island Sailing Club on the Friday evening prior to Saturday’s Race. This takes place at the Island Sailing Club and this year plans are afoot to make the Briefing even more widely accessible. The company also has plans to launch a new product over the Race weekend! More details will be available nearer the time.
Volvo has its fabulous Bubble with iPads on which to play the RYA Volvo Sail for Gold interactive sailing game. A number of Volvo cars will also be exhibited.
Last call for entries!
If you would like to join the race of a lifetime on Saturday June 30th, you have until midday on Saturday June 23rd to get your entry in to the Island Sailing Club via the official Race website.
Keep up to date with all the Race information and news via:
www.roundtheisland.org.uk
www.facebook.com/roundtheisland
www.twitter.com/roundtheisland