9 minute read
ROUND THE ISLAND RACE
by All At Sea
Regularly attracting more than 1,400 boats and thousands of sailors, the iconic Round the Island Race is one of the largest yacht races in the world and it is happening this month!
Image: Paul Wyeth
Taking place on 25 June, this one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight is organised every year by the Island Sailing Club.
The race continues to live up to its reputation as a ‘Race for All’ – welcoming sailors from all over the world, with professional sailors, keen amateur crews, families and first-time racers competing on the same 50nm racecourse around the striking Isle of Wight coastline.
Race director, David Atkinson said: “In 2021, the 90th year of the race, our expectations were exceeded when we welcomed over 1,200 boats and 8,000 competitors, who enjoyed an absolutely magical extravaganza on the waters around the Isle of Wight. We hope to build on this success and attract a wide range of boats from the UK and abroad to experience the race and onshore hospitality in Cowes this year.”
“It is also fantastic to see entries returning from abroad, plus we have also got the highest percentage of first-time participants (to date) that we have ever experienced. I think there are lots of new owners keen to challenge their boats and crew with our incredible race.”
John Oleshko was one of the first timers in 2021 on Preferita, a Salona 380, and he said: “It was wonderful to see the breadth and depth of the sailing fraternity on the water, an absolutely amazing day.”
More than 100 trophies are up for grabs and most boats have the chance to win several different prizes.The most famous, though, is the Gold Roman Bowl, which has
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust taking part in the 2019 race. Image: Sportography.tv
The Trust Race Crew, Round the Island Race 2019. Image: EMCT
Dame Ellen MacArthur with young people the Trust has supported on board the Trust’s yacht, Solent Hero. Image: EMCT CHARITY SUPPORT
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has been the Official Race Charity since 2005 with young people who have been treated for cancer racing as part of Trust crews.
Now, after Covid scuppered young people’s participation in 2020 and 2021, the Trust is set to have five boats racing this year. Up to 30 young people living through and beyond cancer will take to the water, being inspired to believe in a brighter future.For many young people picking up where they left off before cancer is not possible, so when treatment ends the Trust’s work begins.
Long-time Trust skipper, Becky Ellis, will helm one of the Trust entries.
Becky said:“Doing the race gives young people such a sense of achievement. It is something they can always look back on, a big visual in their minds - that start line is something you never forget.”
Frank Fletcher, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust CEO, added: “Hundreds of young people living through and beyond cancer have been given the chance to believe in a brighter future thanks to the long-term partnership with the Round the Island Race and the wonderful crews that support us.
“The past two years have been the most challenging of the Trust’s history, so we are incredibly grateful for the continued support this year. After the triumph of getting 315 young people back on board in 2021, this year we hope to welcome more than 600 young people on Trust trips across the UK.”
Alongside the other Race Partners, the Trust will have a stand in the Round the Island Race Village at Cowes Yacht Haven all day Saturday and Sunday morning with family fun and games.
Ellen concluded: “If you are around, please come down and meet the Trust team and find out more about what we do. The young people we support are absolutely incredible, truly inspirational and it is wonderful there are going to be so many of them out on the water for the race again.”
Since 2005, more than £300,000 has been raised by competitors and supporters of the race. To support the Trust, visit their fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/ campaign/2022roundislandrace ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org
There are several ways in which the Race Team are providing support to competitors preparing for the race:
QUESTIONS FOR BEN: Expert ISC Sailing Secretary, Ben Ferris, is standing by to answer questions about the race, via a new Q&A section on the event website.
BLOGS & WEBINARS: B&G, Race Marine Electronics Partner, is inviting competitors to get Race Day Ready with their blog series helping crews to get the most out of their electronics on race day. GUIDES: The team have produced a handy First Timers’ Guide with everything competitors need to know. For a safe and enjoyable race it is important that everyone is familiar with the Racing Rules of Sailing, and to help those who do not race regularly, the team have also produced a Layman’s Guide to the Racing Rules.
The above can be found at www.roundtheisland.org.uk and www.bandg.com/blog/round-the-islandrace---how-to-get-the-perfect-start
The iconic Gold Roman Bowl Trophy for the fi rst boat on corrected time, IRC. Image: Paul Wyeth been awarded to the overall winner since the fi rst race in 1931, but there are many other trophies with fascinating histories that are given away to worthy winners in their respective classes. This year, eight lucky yachts will also be awarded a Swiss made General Purpose Marathon Watch.
ONSHORE HOSPITALITY The Island Sailing Club will be working in partnership with Cowes Yacht Haven to stage a Round the Island Race Village, which will be open from midday on Friday 24 June and throughout the race weekend.
Daniel Jehan, managing director of Cowes Yacht Haven, explained: “We are very excited to be hosting the Race Village and look forward to entertaining competitors, supporters and spectators with our pop-up food hall, bar area and terrace.”
Race Partners Marathon Watch, B&G, Helly Hansen, Chelsea Magazines and Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust will all have stands offering fun activities, promotions and support for competitors.
Helly Hansen will also be working in partnership with the RNLI to offer a free Lifejacket Clinic, which will take place at the HH Cowes store on 24 June. RNLI volunteers will be performing lifejacket checks to make sure competitors are ocean ready and prepared for the race.
As well as kitting out more than 150 volunteers and organisers, Helly Hansen has developed a merchandised capsule collection, which incorporates some of the brand’s favourite technical pieces, along with new pieces for 2022.
Talking about the shoreside activities race director David Atkinson said: “For the fi rst time since the pandemic started we are delighted to be able to offer a terrifi c onshore hospitality programme at both the Race Village and the Island Sailing Club in Cowes.”
TAKING PART You do not need to own a boat or be friends with a skipper to take part. On the race’s website there is a Crew Search page where you can post your availability and search the crew wanted messages. Plus there are many options to join through, for example, travel and charter companies like Kraken Travel.
In fact Mike Pickering, Kraken’s cofounder, has raced every year for the past 15 or so years and in that time has taken line honours and division wins in several classes, so defi nitely knows his way around the course.
His tips for the start when sailing with a novice crew are: “You should always expect the pre-start to be chaotic. With a novice crew, they will be unsure as to what is going on. The main aim of the start is to have clear air and stay clear of any bum fi ghts whilst still trying to remain competitive by going full speed across the line on the gun. Once clear, set yourself up in a clear wind lane for the beat.” More tips from Mike: n Do not become involved in too much detail with tidal tactics. n You will not win the race by going from match race to match race. n Do not hold grudges. n Be bold enough not to follow the crowd. n Sail in clean air.
Get in touch with Kraken Travel for availability on race day on board a Harmony 52 and for Mike’s tactical race guide (kraken.travel).
Other boat options are potentially still available with, for example, Britannia Corporate Events, LV Yachting and Solent Events. Some provide the chance to be crew, whilst some offer the opportunity to charter a boat for the race.
THE COURSE The boats cross the start line at Cowes in 11 groups, starting every 10 minutes from 0800 until 0930 and heading in a westerly direction towards Yarmouth. The boats pass round the Needles Lighthouse, along the south-west coast of the Island to St. Catherine’s Point and then up across Sandown Bay to round the Bembridge Ledge Buoy. The fl eet then makes its way either side of No Man’s Land Fort and across Osborne Bay to the fi nish line back at Cowes.
For those on land watching the action, there are many observation points around the Island, which will come into their own at different times during the day. Whichever one you choose you can be guaranteed a good few hours of wonderful views of the boats, and a great atmosphere.
For those on land watching the action,
The Round the Island Race Village at Cowes Yacht Haven. Image: Paul Wyeth
To celebrate being the Offi cial Race Timekeeper Partner Marathon Watch Company launched a Limited Edition Round the Island Race Marathon Stopwatch. Find out more in this month’s Kit Bag On page 22.
If you will not be on the Island you can always keep an eye on the race’s progress on the website, via live text commentary or the boat tracking facility.
New for this year is Compete and Compare. Every boat is required to register with the race’s free, live tracking system to allow its position in the race to be tracked. As well as keeping race offi cials and everyone watching at home up-to-date, it gives competitors the opportunity to replay their race to see where they gained (or lost) time on rivals.
This year they have upgraded the Race Viewer with a new ‘Compete & Compare’ feature that gives everyone one-click access to the tracks of all the boats that match theirs. This will all work live while taking part or following the race.
Whether racing or enjoying the day, send us your favourite photos!
DID YOU KNOW? The course records stand at 3h 43m 50s for a monohull boat, set by Mike Slade on ICAP Leopard in 2013, and 2h 22m 23s for a multihull boat, set by Ned Collier Wakefi eld on Concise 10 in 2017.
INFORMATION
Round the Island Race 2022: 25 June (2023: 1 July) @roundtheisland #RoundTheIsland #RaceForAll www.roundtheisland.org.uk
It is set to be a spectacular sight come 25 June, with race entries rapidly building. Standard entry period runs until 11 June and late entry until 12:00 on 22 June. To enter go to the event website - www.roundtheisland.org.uk. If you have entered before, there is a pre-fi lled entry form containing all your details to save you time.
