Three generations of Rogers set sights on the Gold Roman Bowl

Jonah, Jeremy and Kit Rogers on board the Contessa 26 Grayling © Jessie Rogers

Back on the start line at the Round the Island Race this year will be Jeremy Rogers and three generations of the Rogers family aboard Jeremy's recently restored 1966 Contessa 26, Grayling.

Jeremy (77), one time Admiral's Cup winner and Yachtsman of the Year is as legendary as his boats and will be steering Grayling round a course he knows well. In 2002/2003 and 2006 he sailed his way to victory in the JP Morgan Round The Island Race in his Contessa 26, Rosina of Beaulieu, making him the only person to pick up the coveted Gold Roman Bowl three times in the same boat. This time Jeremy will be joined by two of his sons, Simon and Kit as well as his 14 year old grandson, Jonah.

Grayling was the 6th Contessa 26 to be built back in 1966. The owner, Vernon Sainsbury, had acted as a business angel for the young Jeremy Rogers, putting up the money for the tooling of the first Contessa 26 and Grayling was his repayment. Since those days more than 400 Contessa 26s have been built which was the start of a whole family of Contessa yachts including the iconic bigger sister the Contessa 32. In 2012 Jeremy's wife, Fiona, spotted Grayling for sale on ebay and she was brought back to the Rogers boat yard in Lymington for a full refurbishment.

www.roundtheisland.org.uk