Contessa 32's revel in glorious conditions for 2026 Round the Island Race

by Peter Binning (with thanks to Darren Ballard) 20 Jul 09:03 BST 11 July 2026

It is hard to recall a better day's racing round the Isle of Wight this year on Saturday 11 July. The Contessa 32 fleet certainly put on a show of force for the occasion with 24 entries in the race, providing excellent class racing over the legendary 50 mile course.

The Contessa 32 fleet was sent on its way at 0810 with the tide now running well to the west with an extra push for those inshore at the Squadron end of the line. An inshore peleton of Contessa Round the Island regulars showed early promise with all the fleet carrying kites down the Solent. The early leaders were Jemima of Farley and Assent with Binkie II and Bugler strong contenders and Bird seen in the mix.

By Yarmouth, with another tidal push to profit from, the leading boats included the well-travelled and keenly campaigned Belgian entry, Lecas, with her distinctive lemon and light blue spinnaker showing really good pace towards the Needles and Carolina further out surging along at nearly 8 knots at times. The rest of the fleet were not far behind as the Needles rounding came up fast with the building tide.

The rounding inside the wreck was a somewhat crowded affair with plenty of tension in the air as at least one boat grazed her keel on Goose Rock ("..luckily only a chalk mark on the copper coating.."). Lecas was probably first around on the inside with Jemima of Farley on the outside. Bugler, Binkie II and Concerto were very close together through the gap. The confused wind close in at the turning point presented a challenge to all boats trying to get clear air for a clean exit to the south east. The boats who did best from this seemed to be Binkie II and Concerto.

Few boats dived inshore straight away but on the leg towards St Catherine's anyone thinking the rhumb line might have been a good strategy were reconsidering after the fast ride down the Solent brought a strong west going tide to contend with on the south side. Bugler took a small hitch in about a third of the way there lying third by the halfway point with Binkie II and Concerto in a tacking match up the shore not far ahead.

A little further back there were several notable rivalries being renewed, particularly the quad of Musketeer, English Rose, Augusta and Carolina. As the leaders worked down the coast to Dunnose, Lecas and Assent were in contention at the top of the fleet passing Bugler who then made a move offshore spotting a windshift later tacking onto starboard and finding clear air and a lifting breeze all the way to the final turning mark at Bembridge Ledge at around 7 knots over the ground. The race was now in its final stage with Bugler third 100 metres behind Concerto and Binkie II.

As Binkie II and Concerto went for the Island shore out of the tide, Bugler saw an opportunity further offshore again, noting the large ships at anchor facing east. Taking a course further out with clear air and favourable tide they came inshore late most of the way to the post off Ryde Sands cutting ahead of Concerto and Binkie II and holding them off to the finish for a well-deserved first place. That the top 3 Contessa 32's finished within 22 seconds of each other shows once again the enduring competitiveness of this class and its many loyal supporters.

The racing throughout the fleet was close fought and will be remembered as a vintage edition of this great race. This year (for the first time) there was a Contessa 32 Class Team entry of Assent, Bugler and Binkie II which won the Team Award beating Team X Yachts and the Arun Yacht Club Team.

In the Special Awards, the Contessa 32's had a strong showing in the Family Trophy with Concerto taking third place and Bird, Musketeer, Poppy, Solent Seraph all performing well.

With thanks to all Contessa 32 competitors for a great day on the water. Next year's event is on 10 July 2027. Stay with us, next up is Cowes Week, the 200th anniversary and the 50th Contessa 32 start, still time to enter for some great one design racing.