Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

A 'Round the Island' Adventure

by Nicola West 10 Aug 2020 10:52 BST 9 August 2020

With many choosing to stay at home this summer, two local families decided that it would be the perfect opportunity for fabulous adventure. George Overton with his brother Harry West and Dirk & Johnny Rogers had a vision of sailing non-stop around the Isle of Wight, a distance of more than 50 nautical miles, in their RS Feva dinghies.

After much planning, the date was set for Sunday 9th August, weather permitting. Monitoring the forecast during the week leading up to the 9th was nerve racking with the wind changing from too strong to too little, but luckily on the day before it all seemed to have settled on near perfect conditions.

The alarms were set for an early start, waking at 4am for a 5am launch, then heading up Lymington river and through the river gate at 5.25am in the pre sunrise light. The journey to The Needles proved idyllic with a beautiful pink sunrise as both boats threaded through the Needles.

The trip from the Needles of St Catherine's Point was exhilarating with some fantastic winds allowing them to round the point at only 8.24am, then pushing them on around to Ventor by 9.07am. Unfortunately, as the warmth of the sun came through the wind eased and the stretch passing Bembridge, Ryde and on to Cowes slowed with the sailors having to make best use of the tides when they could.

As they rounded the headland to Cowes the sea breeze kicked in and the four boys in their two RS Fevas started on the long and final stretch back home to Lymington crossing the river line at 5.59pm.

A huge thank you to the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, of which both families are members, for your support in the planning of the trip and Nick Eales of Sea Start for your assurance of being there should we need you.

Related Articles

South and Southwest Regional Junior Championship
Exciting, high-quality competitive racing for 5 classes at Weymouth There were 145 sailors competing in Topper 5.3 and 4.2, Optimist, RS Feva XL, RS Tera Pro and Sport and ILCA 4 classes. The excellent race team led by PRO Paul Kimmens delivered exciting, high-quality competitive racing for all classes. Posted on 26 Jun
NEYYSA Championship at Ullswater
They had it all: heat, sun, torrential rain, wind, calm, thunder and lightning We had it all at Ullswater, heat, sun, (torrential) rain, wind, calm, thunder and lightning but nothing switched the smiles, sailing and socialising off at the North Region Youth & Junior Championships at Ullswater. Posted on 25 Jun
All set for NEYYSA Championship at Ullswater
Youth and juniors from all over the NE and Yorkshire will battle this weekend With less than 24 hours until the first warning signal at the North Region Youth & Junior Championships organised by North East & Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association (NEYYSA) and hosted by Ullswater Yacht Club final preparations are in hand. Posted on 20 Jun
BSDRA Schools Week preview
Itchenor host 300 students for the National Schools Championships this month With a bumper entry of 160+ boats, next week's Schools Week Sponsored by Magic Marine promises thrilling racing and, with luck, some favourable June weather. This year's Championships are expected to draw around 300 students. Posted on 18 Jun
Youth Sailors Take on MKBYSA Regatta at Stewartby
Sailors aged 10 to 18 from all over Milton Keynes and Bucks came together Saturday 14th June saw perfect sailing weather at Stewartby Water Sports Club: warm, sunny, and windy just the way we like it! Sailors aged 10 to 18 from all over Milton Keynes and Bucks came together for three exciting races. Posted on 16 Jun
Still all to play for in the NEYYSA Series
Off to Pennine SC this weekend Sailors are gearing up for the next round of the North East & Yorkshire Youth Travellers Series which resumes at Pennine Sailing Club on Saturday 7 June after a short siesta over the half term period. Posted on 6 Jun
RS Feva UK Nationals at Dalgety Bay
The club's hospitality created a wonderful village atmosphere, enveloping everyone The Feva class set sail for its very first National event in the stunning landscape of Scotland, graciously hosted by the Dalgety Bay Sailing Club. Families and schools were abuzz with excitement as they journeyed to Scotland. Posted on 3 Jun
Bosham Sailing Club Junior Regatta
A gob-smacking 90+ entries tak part A gob-smacking 90+ entries for the Bosham SC Junior Regatta, aligned with a late high tide and a wedding marquee on the meadow normally used for rigging and de-rigging created a unique challenge to celebrate its newly acquired RYA Pathway Club status. Posted on 3 Jun
RS Feva UK National Championships
Big winds, fancy dress and competitive racing The sun might have stayed hidden this bank holiday weekend, but the wind certainly showed up in force for the 2025 RS Feva National Championships. Over 90 dinghies from across the UK gathered at Dalgety Bay Sailing Club in Scotland. Posted on 28 May
Northern Irish sailors shine at RS Feva Nationals
Ben McCaldin finished as first junior All Northern Irish sailors made it into the Gold Fleet, which represents the top selection of boats after the initial races, highlighting the quality of local sailors here in Northern Ireland. Posted on 28 May