Round the Island Race 2024 - One week to go

Round the Island Race fleet © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

The excitement is building for the world-famous Round the Island Race on Saturday 15th June. It's both a prestigious and a challenging race, and regularly attracts a diverse range of sailors from Olympians and professional race teams, keen amateurs and groups of families ready to enjoy a cracking day out on the water.

The Island Sailing Club, based on the Isle of Wight, is proud to have organised this globally renowned race for over 90 years. All fleets follow the same 50 nautical miles course which circumnavigates the Isle of Wight in an anti-clockwise direction. Starting on the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes at 6am, the fleet race westabout to The Needles, pass St Catherine's Point, round Bembridge Ledge buoy, and back into the Solent to the finish line at Cowes.

Dave Atkinson, Race Director said: "We are looking forward to welcoming boats from all over the World to the 87th edition of the race. The Race Team wish all the competitors a very enjoyable day on the racetrack and a fun time in the Official Hospitality Venue on The Parade, which is open to everyone.

"With the long-range forecast looking favourable for the race I'm sure there will be many of the boats planning strategies to beat their own personal records and secure one or more of the 100+ trophies."

Spinnakers at the Needles during the Round the Island Race - photo © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

There will be a detailed daily forecast available on www.roundtheisland.org.uk from Wednesday 12th June.

To follow the race online, visit www.roundtheisland.org.uk and watch the easy-to-use Race Viewer. As well as seeing the full race unfold live and following the text commentary, specific boats can be highlighted and tracked as they progress around the course.

New this year is a 'Live Stage Leaderboard' tool which tracks the progress of the fleets (IRC and ISCRS) and shows individual boat positions on handicap within their fleet after each of the four main race stages. Also, follow on social media for all the latest updates.

New 'Live Stage Leaderboard' tool for the Round The island Race - photo © ISC

It's a spectacular sight watching the hundreds of boats sailing around the stunning Isle of Wight coastline. There are many excellent vantage points on the Island shoreline including the start in Cowes, The Needles, Chilton Chine, St Catherine's Point, Ventnor and Ryde Pier. On the mainland shore - Hurst Point and Gilkicker Point are great spots. A Spectator Guide on www.roundtheisland.org.uk provides details of all the shoreside activities and a handy map, with a table of times at which the boats will pass different points during the race.

Shoreside during the Round the Island Race - photo © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

This year, the Race Team and the Island Sailing Club (ISC) are staging an Official Hospitality Venue on The Parade in Cowes. It's free to enter, everyone is welcome, and it will be open throughout the race weekend from 14:00 on Friday 14 June to Sunday 16 June evening. This shoreside venue will be the best place to enjoy the buzz of the race, meet up with friends over a few drinks and enjoy the live music.

The new venue will feature:

• Large Crew Bar marquee serving a wide range of drinks including draft beers and ales
• Food Court serving delicious food and snacks - vendors include favourite local Cowes restaurant 'The Garden', Honey Donuts and Island Ice
• Live music on the stage all three days including bands Blonde Bombshell (Friday night) and Cornerstone (Saturday night)
• B&G Race Support Event Truck offering electronics set-up support to all competitors and get involved in their 'Plinko' prize game
• Helly Hansen and RNLI stand - take the 'Ready Steady Crew' challenge and buy a race memento from the HH Official Race Collection
• Crew Deli at Blind Tiger - Deli Boxes are available to pre-order & collect on Friday www.blindtigeriw.co.uk
• Crew Suppers at Blind Tiger on Friday and Saturday - book via www.blindtigeriw.co.uk
• The Mermaid Garden at the ISC - cocktails, beers and pizza
• ISC Members' Bar and Terrace (all competitors welcome)
• ISC Dining Room - lunch and dinner. Please book on 01983 249434 or 296621

There's still time to enter as Late Entry will be available until 12:00 on Wednesday 12th June, see www.roundtheisland.org.uk