Under starter's orders
by Peta Stuart-Hunt, ISC Race Press Officer 11 May 2015 11:36 BST
27 June 2015
The exquisite Eleonora (foreground) and Mariquita, photographed here competing in the 2012 Westward Cup, will again be lining up alongside each other for this year's RTI Race © Chris Boynton
As the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race entries hit the 900+ mark in early May, the Race Management team at the Island Sailing Club (ISC) is especially pleased to see a number of Race Partners and their boats lining up for some exciting Race action on Saturday 27th June.
Haven Knox-Johnston will compete with HKJ Firestarter (GBR 8560R) and HKJ Enigma (GBR4365T), whilst Old Pulteney are racing Kurketrekker (GBR3779L), the Beneteau Oceanis 34. Henri Lloyd will have crew and guests competing on CV Henri Lloyd (GBR9351T) a Clipper 68. Raymarine are also hinting at bringing a team boat.
Come what may, the all-important Raymarine Weather Briefing with Race meteorologist Chris Tibbs giving competitors a heads-up on the highs and/or lows of the race day ahead, will take place as usual at the Island Sailing Club at 1800hrs on Friday 26th June.
Olympian Mary King MBE is jumping for joy!
The ISC is always thrilled to welcome first timers to the Round the Island Race and this year the line up of new faces will include British Olympic Equestrian sportswoman Mary King MBE racing with skipper and friend John Jackett on New Dawn of Hythe (GBR1314R). Mary, who has, represented Great Britain at six Olympics from 1992 - 2012, winning two silver and one bronze medal in team eventing, is really looking forward to the Race, commenting:
"I am so excited to have been asked to be part of the vast race fleet at this year's Round the Island. I have heard some thrilling stories from friends who have participated in this magnificent race in previous years. It will be a first time for me, and although I am very much a novice sailor it certainly appeals to my competitive nature and I felt honoured to have a chance to be part of a crew. Roll on the end of June!"
Swanning on the Solent
Alan Dunnet from Renfrewshire, Scotland is also heading to the Round the Island Race, to compete for the first time in his 57 years of sailing. He has entered his 1967 Swan 36 Valhalla of Ashton (GBR2496), owned since new. That's a wonderful 45 years.
"We are coming south to do the Swan European Championships for the first time and decided it was a good opportunity to do the RTI at the same time," enthused Alan. Along with his regular crew Alan has previously won at the Scottish Series in both IRC and CYCA classes.
Majestic ladies
The Big Class yacht, classic schooner Eleonora, is back to race for the first time since being co-skippered by Sir Ben Ainslie in 2012 just prior to him securing his fourth Olympic Gold medal in Weymouth.
Eleonora is an exact replica of the schooner Westward that was launched in 1910 and became one of the best-known racing schooners in the world. Eleonora will later participate in the prestigious Bicentenary International Regatta in Cowes during July.
Another exquisite-looking yacht entering the Race for the first time is the 19M William Fife Mariquita. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful classic yachts sailing today, Mariquita was part of the infamous 'Great 19s' close and highly competitive fleet that travelled far and wide during the early 1900s.
A racegoers website - for on water and on shore detail
If you are looking for crew or are interested in competing on someone else's boat in this year's Race, the official Race website is your first port of call. It has a very useful Crew Search Forum. The Start times and Fleet flags information extracted from the Notice of Race can also be found on the website which is packed with helpful guidance and practical advice to help all racegoers, whether on the water or onshore. The website is regularly updated and details about the Race Village entertainment will be added in June, so make sure you keep in touch.
Standard entry remains open until midnight on June 13th. rtir.me/entries
The Island Sailing Club is grateful for the continued support of the Race Title Sponsor, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and the Race Partners: Dream Yacht Charter, Haven Knox-Johnston, Henri Lloyd, Old Pulteney, Raymarine, Volvo Car UK.
Official Race Charity: www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org
Official Race website: www.roundtheisland.org.uk