30 minutes added to J.P. Morgan Round the Island Race finish deadline

BFG reaching towards Bembridge Ledge in the 2012 RTI Race © RTI Race

Race organisers at the Island Sailing Club (ISC) in Cowes have taken the unusual decision to amend the finish time of this year's J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race to help alleviate any concerns competitors may have about being able to complete the Race within the usual time limit of 2200hrs. With entries currently standing at 860 + the ISC reiterates that the first start is at 0830 but that they have extended the finish deadline by 30 minutes to 2230. Standard entries close at midnight on Saturday 18th June.

Race organisers are always delighted to see familiar family names cropping up in the entry list and this year, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Contessa 26, the 78 year-old designer Jeremy Rogers has entered the beautifully restored 1966 Grayling with a family crew including 15 year-old grandson Jonah, and Hattie Rogers, a successful sailor in her own right.

No stranger to the Round the Island Race, the famous Swan 65 Desperado of Cowes (IRC), owned by Richard Loftus, has been chartered by Zbynek Zak, owner of the exquisite schooner Eleonora. Mr Zak comments: "We plan to have a race crew of 13-14, with a mix of a few of Desperado's permanent crew, a few friends from the Squadron, a few friends who raced with us last summer on Eleonora, and a few 'youngsters' from the Squadron's Sailing Academy, and of course Mike (McMillan, Eleonora's Captain), who is running the show. Last-but-not-least, a few wives."

Lady Mariposa Dan Hardy leads a team that has developed over the last three years from racing an Oyster 625 to their new Ker 46. Team Lady Mariposa caught the racing bug as an Oyster 625 through entering events from Oyster races to RORC Offshore races, and over the course of three years the team felt their hunger for speed would be best channelled into a race boat.

Through the regeneration of the team, Lady Mariposa Racing was born and, after spending the winter in Palma, the team is back in the UK with an exciting 2016 schedule ahead.

BFG is one of the original Sonatas built in 1975 and owner Chris Bentley is former Chairman of the Sonata Association. Chris may be the man in charge but he is quick to point out that racing BFG is a team effort and he is only the "tiller waggler".

The BFG RTI crew has remained the same and comprises Helm Chris Bentley, Cockpit David Hill, Foredeck Max Bentley (son), Nav/tactician Sharon Brokenshire. They have won their Class twice, were towed in by the Navy having broken their rudder off St Kats last year and hope to complete a winning hat trick this year.

Entry number 700 is Whisper, a Rustler 33 owned and skippered by Peter Bainbridge from Romsey in Hampshire. Peter first entered in 1965, has competed 21 times and is a former Gold Roman Bowl winner.

HJK Seamanship Award

The J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race camaraderie shared amongst its thousands of competitors and also Race volunteers and safety teams on Race day often manifests itself in nominations for and the awarding of the Seamanship Award, sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston.

During most years someone will at some point display great courage and/or particularly brave or selfless seamanship or emergency aid to help another and these feats are recognised through nominations for the Haven Knox-Johnston Seamanship Award. More details will be released on the Race website before the Race weekend.

Highlights time!

J.P. Morgan Asset Management's title sponsorship has led to a number of Race-related initiatives being introduced and here are three more highlights from 2012/2013.

Four-time Olympic gold medallist, Sir Ben Ainslie completed the 50-mile Race in a scorching 2hrs 52mins and 15secs, shaving more than 16 minutes off the previous multihull record that had stood for 12 years. He raced under J.P. Morgan Asset Management colours, in his J.P. Morgan BAR AC45 multihull.

The #raceforall social media campaign was an initiative launched for the 2013 Race. The 'Race for all' ethos was the key message for the campaign using the official social media platforms to help build an online race community.

For every #raceforall tweet, J.P. Morgan Asset Management also donated 10p to the official Race Charity, The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. In addition, Race #raceforall buffs were distributed to fans and competitors.

Standard entries to compete in the 2016 Round the Island Race close at midnight on Saturday 18th June. Enter at http://rtir.me/entries.

www.roundtheisland.org.uk