Competition hotting up for the 2023 Round the Island Race on 1st July
by Island Sailing Club 17 Jun 2023 07:52 BST
1 July 2023
Fleet at the Needles © Paul Wyeth
As entries pass the 1,000 mark for this year's Round the Island Race, all eyes are on the front runners that will lead the fleet away from the Royal Yacht Squadron start line on Saturday 1st July.
The new boat on the Solent scene this season is Notorious, a stunning Maxi 72 owned by Peter Morton, a long-time local in Cowes, who will skipper the boat in this year's Round the Island Race. Sam Haines who is the boat captain said: "We are really looking forward to the race, many of our crew are local to the Island so we're incredibly proud of how iconic the race has become all over the world.
"If the weather is kind to us with plenty of wind we're hoping to go out and come back with line honours and some trophies. It will be a great practice for the RORC Fastnet race - fine-tuning our teamwork when going through manoeuvres, there are a lot of corners on the racecourse!
"I have often cycled around the Isle of Wight on race day and it's so great to see so many happy spectators along the coastline watching the spectacular scene of hundreds of boats of all sizes racing together. I'd highly recommend everyone gets on a boat or watches the race from the shore!"
The cannons will fire at 08:00 from the Royal Yacht Squadron on Saturday 1st July to herald the first fleet start (Open 60; IRC Group 0; IRC Group 1; Class 40; Clipper Yachts). This is an ideal place to watch the starting sequence or on Cowes Green. For a great Observation Point Guide for both the Isle of Wight and mainland vantage points visit the event website (The Race / The Course section).
Standard entry fees close on Saturday
Don't forget that STANDARD ENTRIES close at 23:59 on Saturday 17th June, so if your boat isn't already entered for the race, visit the event website at www.roundtheisland.org.uk for all the information you need and the online entry form. Late entries will be available until 12:00 on Wednesday 28th June.
Team entries
Why not enter a Sailing or Yacht Club Team and be in the running for four trophies? You just need three boats to form a Club team. The entry fee is £40 per team and each Club can enter more than one team.
The prizes up for grabs are:
- The Methuselah Trophy awarded for the Overall IRC Team
- The Jeroboam Trophy awarded for the 2nd Overall IRC Team
- The Arun Yacht Club Team Challenge Trophy awarded for the Overall ISCRS Team
- The Jeroboam Trophy awarded for the 2nd Overall ISCRS Team
On-Shore events
Once again, the Island Sailing Club are staging an Official Race Village in Cowes Yacht Haven. It is free to enter and will welcome all competitors, supporters, spectators and visitors to enjoy drinks and food from 17:00 on Friday 30th June and throughout race day and evening until midnight. Live bands will entertain the crowds on Saturday from early evening.
The Race Partners (Helly Hansen and B&G), Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Project Q and the Island Sailing Club will have stands offering race support, discounts, games and giveaways.