Rio hopefuls will compete in the RTI Race
by Peta Stuart-Hunt 22 Jun 2015 16:21 BST
27 June 2015
Giles Scott during the ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth Finn Medal Race © Robert Deaves / Finn Class
Team Volvo sailors Giles Scott and Hannah Mills of the British Sailing Team will be taking to the water on board the IMOCA 60 JP Morgan Asset Management Rosalba in this year's J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, on 27th June.
Both are taking time out of their Rio 2016 Olympic training schedule to join this year's race. London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Hannah Mills is currently campaigning for Rio 2016 with sailing partner Saskia Clarke in the 470 Womens class. After winning a gold medal at their recent World Cup event in Weymouth they have been selected to compete at the Rio Olympic Test event in August.
This will be Hannah's 3rd time competing in the Race.
"I am really excited to go round the Island again. I would like to beat my previous time of five and a half hours from a couple of years ago when I went round in a Farr 45. I think I'm going to let Giles do the skippering and I will be navigator."
Giles Scott is one of the most successful athletes in the British Sailing Team, currently unbeaten for over 18 months in the Finn Class. He too won a gold medal at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Weymouth and announced as part of the team to compete at the Olympic test event held in Rio ahead of next year's games. Ahead of the Race Giles said:
"I am really excited to get out on the water for this year's race, I have never been on an IMOCA 60 before so I'm really excited to helm that; it will be very different from my Finn.
"I have been to the Isle of Wight a few times, but never been able to venture very far from Cowes, so I am looking forward to going all the way round the Island and seeing it from the water. It should be a great day and something I've wanted to do for a while now - I want to get round in a good time though!"
Get Tracking
This year's race will once again feature GPS tracking of the fleet. Spectators around the world will be able to follow the race live, and replay facilities will be available after the race to allow you to compare performances.
The Island Sailing Club and title sponsor J.P. Morgan Asset Management are delighted to be providing the online audience with live GPS tracking at this year's J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Combined with the new RTI TV channel and the Live Blog, it's a fantastic way to follow the progress of the fleet - and to see exactly how friends and family are doing.
On Race day, armchair spectators will be able to watch the Race using the easy-to-use Race Viewer. As well as watching the Race unfold live, you'll be able to select up to 10 boats that you would like to track as they progress around the 50 nautical mile course. Tracking will begin from the first start at 0700 right through to the finish at 2200. Replay and pause facilities will also be available for anyone who's interested in comparing detailed performances.
Tracking registration is now open via the home page on the official website. All competitors are encouraged to sign up and make the Race even more exciting for the landlubbers to follow.
Biggest/Smallest/Fastest/...
The largest yachts competing this year are the exquisite classic schooner, Eleonora at 162ft and the current mono record holder, Mike Slade's 100ft Leopard. We believe the smallest to be a Newbridge Navigator Fair Sail, at 19ft, being sailed by the Webb brothers.
When it comes to the fastest, it is almost certainly the multihull MOD70, Concise 10.
...Oldest with 7-up!
We believe that Rosenn, an 1896 Solent One-Design co-owned and sailed by Bob Fisher (aged 80) and Barry Dunning (69) is the oldest boat competing. Bob first entered the RTI in 1959.
These guys have form! Bob is a world-renowned sailing journalist and a World, European and National champion dinghy and catamaran sailor and winner of the 'Little' America's Cup with many years of offshore racing under his belt. Co-owner Barry Dunning is a double Olympian (Soling class) and national Dinghy champion several times. International Coach. Alan Warren (also 80) and part of the seven-strong crew, is a multi-champion Merlin-Rockets sailor.
The younger blood on board is provided by Barry's son Christopher (35) and Bob's grandson, also called Christopher, aged 22. We wish them and all the competitors taking part in this year's Race fair winds, safe passage and a brilliant day's racing.
Enjoy this year's Race even if you're not competing
The Race atmosphere really starts to build on Friday 26th June as the marinas fill with yachts and the competitors make their last-minute preparations. The Cowes businesses get behind this event in a big way and the High Street is really colourful. On Friday the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Race Village in Cowes Yacht Haven is a hive of activity with its big screen, all the Race Partner stands, live stage entertainment and interactive fun for visitors of all ages. The all-important Raymarine Weather Briefing takes place at the Island Sailing Club at 1800. This is being live streamed on RTI TV and also at the two new Race HUB clubs at the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble and the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.
Saturday is all about the Race. Watch the starts from Cowes and there are many excellent vantage points around the Island. Or you can watch online via the Race Blog, and RTI TV. Live commentary will provide full coverage of the starts (0700-0840) as well as some of the early finishers in a four-hour programme interspersed with plenty of pre-race interviews. RTI TV will then revert to providing key results, weather updates and other features.
Everyone racing or spectating is encouraged to tweet news and views to @roundtheisland using #raceforall.
Race Village opening times are:
Friday - 1200-1800
Saturday - 1000 - late
Sunday - 1030 - 1500
Late entries are accepted up until noon on 24th June. www.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