Round the Island Race 2019 competitors celebrate at the end of race prize-giving ceremony
by Sue Pelling 30 Jun 2019 15:27 BST
29 June 2019
After another spectacular event yesterday, competitors in the Round the Island Race 2019 gathered at the Helly Hansen stage on Cowes Parade today for the race prize-giving ceremony.
While the largest monohull, 'Jethou' took the line honours in its class, the much sought-after Golden Roman Bowl was won by the smallest competing yacht - an Alacrity 18 Bilge Keel 'Eeyore', skippered by Jo Richards.
Among the competitors were representatives of the race partners: Chelsea Magazines, Helly Hansen, Raymarine and MS Amlin, and the race charity partner The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. More than 80 prizes were awarded following a day of tactical racing in challenging conditions.
Yesterday's weather allowed for the first spinnaker start to the Round the Island Race in just under ten years. Other highlights included the 100ft multihull Actual Leader crossing the line first with a race time of 7 hours 33 minutes and 36 seconds, and a better race village than ever with food stalls, a bigger bar and a stage with a full programme of entertainment over the whole weekend.
Richard Nichols of race sponsor Helly Hansen said "This race is so great because it is a chance for average sailors to get out there and race with some of the best sailors in the world. There aren't many other races that give you an opportunity to do that."
Rob Peake of race media partner Chelsea Magazines makes a similar point about the unmissable opportunity the race presents: "You can go out and literally sail against the best in your sport."
John Macauley of MS Amlin, a sponsor of the race for the past 15 years, agrees: "We absolutely love the fact that the Round the Island is a race for all. It is a super day out, always is regardless of the conditions."
Harry Heasman of Raymarine also added: "The weather often varies throughout the day with conditions that change - having to battle against varying currents makes it exciting and unique as an event, and is one of the big draws for people coming back year on year."
Commodore of the Island Sailing Club, Dave Atkinson summed up the race weekend saying: "It's been another great year for our iconic race and it has once again proven to truly be a Race for All, with young and old competing alongside world class, professional sailors. It was wonderful to witness the spectacular spinnaker start which is so rare. With an earlier race date of 30th May already announced for 2020, we're looking forward to the race continuing to go from strength to strength."
Entries for next year will open later this year with a date to be announced soon.
Trophies presented today included:
Line Honour Prizes
Observer Trophy (1st monohull): Jethou, GBR74R, Sir Peter Ogden
Conrad Ritblat Trophy (1st IRC Class): Jethou, GBR74R, Sir Peter Ogden
Helly Hansen Trophy (1st ISCRS Class): Panther, GBR6690R, James Stableford
Freedom Challenge Bowl (1st multihull): Actual Leader, 53, Yves Le Blevec
IRC Rated Classes
Gold Roman Bowl & Salver (1st IRC on corrected time): Eeyore, GBR2644R, Jo Richards
Silver Roman Bowl (2nd IRC on corrected time): Ziggy, GBR4069T, Kevin Downer
Special Race Trophies
Tenacity Trophy: ZARA, Andy Young
Full results can be found here.