Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

Glorious day on the water for Round the Island Race

by RTI Press 7 Jul 2018 15:31 BST

There may be little wind on the racecourse for the 1,200 or so teams contesting Island Sailing Club's annual 50nm race around the Isle of Wight but there is certainly no shortage of competitive spirit.

Racing is close throughout the fleet apart from Tony Lawson's record-breaking five-year-old MOD70 foiling trimaran Concise Fling that broke away from the pack at the Needles, rounded St Catherine's Point, and is now tracking along up the east coast towards Bembridge, alone. Even in just 10kts of wind, this crazy machine can reach 35kts of boat speed, so whatever the weather there are generally always plenty of thrills to be had aboard this boat.

The bulk of the fleet, however, is enjoying a tactical game of cat and mouse down the west coast of the Island. Jennifer Burgis and the all-girl team who raced the 2015/16 Clipper Round the World Race are today sailing Fleur de Lis –a chartered Beneteau Oceanis 37 – and currently sailing an impressive race. Importantly, they have managed to reach the Needles before the tide turns. Burgis commented from the racecourse:

"Despite the lack of wind we are extremely pleased with our progress. It took us just two hours to get to the Needles. We had a great start with Holly [Kitching] on the helm and Caroline Bowen on tactics, which was key and, we are looking forward to continuing to work hard and gain more places as we head down the west coast.

"We are really pleased because we seem to have caught up with the Turquoise flagged group that started 10 minutes ahead of us. I think we can put our impressive speed down to Caroline Bowen our tactician who is calling some really good shots in these tricky conditions."

Although the sea breeze should fill in shortly, it is generally slow going. Half the fleet is already round the Needles but the race is on now for those struggling to reach the Needles before the tide turns at 1130.

Even if the cloud builds on land and sea breeze does develop, it is unlikely to be significant. Around the top of the Island from Bembridge Ledge to Ryde – the lee of the island – will be one of the biggest areas of concern and a lot of places are likely to be won and lost there.

To follow the race in detail, go to Race Coverage Live and the Race Tracker.

Records to beat:

  • Monohull course record: 3h 43m 50s – supermaxi, ICAP Leopard (Mike Slade) set in 2013
  • Multihull course record: 2h 22m 23s – MOD70, Team Concise 10 (Ned Collier Wakefield) set in 2017
Race partners: Cloudy Bay, Raymarine, Helly Hansen, MS Amlin, Chelsea Magazines
Event charity: Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust

www.roundtheisland.org.uk

Related Articles

Prize Round the Island Race for 84-year-old Peter
Taking line honours on the helm of his old boat Peter Cunningham hailed the Round the Island Race after taking line honours on the helm of his old boat. Peter, who was first to finish the 2021 race with his PowerPlay Racing Team, repeated the feat on the multihull MOD70, now Zoulou. Posted on 9 Jun
Martin Augustus Round the Island Race Gallery
Top photos as the fleet rounded St. Catherine's Point Top yachting photographer Martin Augustus was at St. Catherine's Point to catch some of the fleet rounding the famous landmark during this year's Round the Island Race. Posted on 8 Jun
Tom Hicks Round the Island Race Photo Gallery
Stunning images from the Solent photographer out on the water Stunning photos from Solent Photographer Tom Hicks out on the water as he caught the action in the 2025 Round the Island Race on Saturday. Posted on 8 Jun
One month to go until Round the Island Race
Over 600 boats have already signed up for this year's event One of sailing's most iconic races is just a month away, and there's still time to be part of it. Over 600 boats have already signed up for this year's Round the Island Race, which takes place on Saturday 7th June. Posted on 7 May
Entries open for the Round the Island Race
Hundreds of boats are expected to take part in the annual spectacle Hundreds of boats are expected to take part in the annual spectacle, organised by the Island Sailing Club, on Saturday 7th June. Posted on 24 Jan
Multiple J/Crews silver in Round the Island Race
There were record retirements across the fleet It was certainly a race to remember with crews battling the heavy conditions, especially around the Needles and the reach to St Catherine's Point. Most boats could be seen with single or double-reefed mains and J4 jibs or even bright orange storm jibs! Posted on 23 Jun 2024
Man Overboard on Walkabout IV
During the 2024 Round the Island Race Photographer Caitlin D'Arcy was down at St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight, watching the Round the Island Race, when she watched a man overboard situation unfold. She picks up the story to tell us what happened. Posted on 19 Jun 2024
Tom Hicks Round the Island Race Photo Gallery Pt.2
More stunning photos of Saturday's race from the top yachting photographer More stunning photos from top yachting photographer Tom Hicks, who was out braving the high winds and huge seas on Saturday for the 2024 Round the Island Race. Posted on 19 Jun 2024
Round the Island Race: Wet and wild
Only nine incidents connected to the race - less than previous years It was certainly a race to remember with crews battling the heavy conditions, especially around the Needles and the reach to St Catherine's Point. Posted on 16 Jun 2024
The oldest footage of the Round the Island Race
Our video archive uncovers much less than expected! With the Round the Island Race running yesterday, it is a great moment to dig through the video archive to see the oldest footage of the race that we can find. Posted on 16 Jun 2024