Round the Island Race
The Round the Island Race is an annual yacht race around the Isle of Wight. It starts and finishes in Cowes, and is organised by the Island Sailing Club. The course is about 50 nautical miles (93 km) long.[1] The race was first held in 1931[2][3] and since 2005 it has been sponsored by JP Morgan Asset Management. The date of the race is generally chosen to be the Saturday in June for which the tides are most favourable; a date in late May or early July may be chosen if there are no suitable dates in June.
Contents
History
The race was the idea of Major Cyril Windeler, who commissioned a gold Roman-style bowl as prize for the winner.[2] The first race, in 1931, had 25 entries.[3] The silver bowl second prize was introduced a few years later when Chris Ratsey impressed Windeler with his good sportsmanship.[2] The last race before WWII, in 1939, attracted 80 entries.[2]
In 2005 JP Morgan Asset Management began sponsorship of the event in a deal lasting until 2010. This sponsorship was later extended to 2014.[4]
In 2008 a total of 1750 boats took part.[5]
Course
The course runs all the way around the Isle of Wight, with a total distance of 50.1 nmi (92.8 km).[6][full citation needed]
The course has varied slightly with buoys tried at the Needles and a requirement to leave No Man's Land Fort to port.
Race record
Multihull/outright race record
It was in 1961 that multihulls first entered the round the island race and the record has since fallen considerably.
| Year | Time | Boat Type | Boat Name | Crew | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 h 52 m 15 s | AC45 catamaran | J.P.Morgan BAR | Ben Ainslie, helm/skipper | [7] |
| 2001 | 3 h 08 m | 60 ft trimaran | Dexia Eure et Loire | Francis Joyon, skipper Rodney Pattison, navigator |
[8] |
| 1986 | 3 h 05 m | 60 ft trimaran | Paragon | Mike Whipp Rodney Pattison |
|
| 1985 | 4 h 04 m | Nigel Irens 60 ft trimaran | Apricot | Tony Bullimore | |
| 1963 | 5 h 50 m | Catamaran | Snowgoose of Wight | Don Robertson | |
| 1961 | 6 h 00 m | Catamaran | Snowgoose of Wight | Don Robertson | |
| 1932–1960 | Various | Monohulls | |||
| 1931 | 9 h 51 m | Monohull | Thomas White Ratsey |
Monohull race record
| Year | Time | Boat Type | Boat Name | Crew | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 h 43 m 50 s | 100 ft Farr design canting keel | ICAP Leopard | Will Ball | [9] |
| 2008 | 3 h 53 m | 100 ft Farr design canting keel | ICAP Leopard | Jack Ewens | [9] |
| 2001 | Reichel Pugh 92 ft maxi | Skandia Life Leopard | Hamjam | ||
| 1931 | 9 h 51 m | Thomas White Ratsey |
Outright record
The outright record as recognised by the World Speed Sailing Record Council on behalf of International Sailing Federation has in the past also been the race record.
| Year | Time | Boat Type | Boat Name | Crew | Notes and Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2012 | 2 h 21 m 25 s | MOD 70 | Foncia | Michel Desjoyeaux | Set during Cowes Week[10] |
| November 2001 | 2 h 33 m 55 s | Catamaran | PlayStation | Steve Fossett, skipper Stan Honey, navigator |
Standalone record attempt[11] |
| June 2001 | 3 h 08 m | 60 ft trimaran | Dexia Eure et Loire | Francis Joyon, skipper Rodney Pattison, navigator |
Set during round the island race[8] |
| 1994 | 3 h 35 m | Trimaran | Lakota | Steve Fossett, skipper | Set during round the island race[8] |
Gallery
-
RoundTheIslandRace2010.jpg
Some of the 1700 boats in the 2010 Round the Island Race.
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Yachts racing during Round the Island Race 2010.jpg
Yachts flying spinnakers during the 2010 race
-
Round the Island Race 2009 off St Catherine's Lighthouse.jpg
The fleet rounding St. Catherine's Lighthouse in 2009
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Round the Island Race 2009 off The Needles.jpg
The 2009 race, with yachts seen racing off The Needles
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Round the Island Race 2009 off The Needles 5.jpg
The 2009 race, with yachts seen racing off The Needles
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Round the Island Race 2009 off The Needles 4.jpg
The 2009 race, with yachts seen racing off The Needles
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk/web/pubs/2011/RIR11-ExhibitionBrochure.pdf
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.sailing.org/news/14339.php
