Volvo Extreme 40 go Round the Island

by Volvo/Sacha Oswald on 3 Jun 2006 The cutting edge, one design VX40 catamarans will race in a class of their own and records could be smashed if the conditions are right.

The five high speed boats, Basilica, Holmatro, Motorola-CHR, Tommy Hilfiger and Volvo Ocean Race, have been a huge attraction, drawing spectator crowds in their 1,000s right across the world during the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06.

The JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, run and organised by the Island Sailing Club, will be their first race outside of their normal in-port racing circuit. The race will give them the opportunity to shine in the 50 mile course.

Current race leaders of the Volvo Extreme 40 circuit are ‘Tommy Hilfiger’ with 32 points. Skipper Randy Smyth (USA) commented: 'This is going to be the first time pitting the Volvo Extreme 40s against the rest of the sailing world. So far we’ve only sailed on the grand prix circuit. Racing these high specification yachts is going to be really interesting for the sailors and the spectators, and checking out how these high speed machines fair against the rest of the sailing world is going to be fantastic.'

Jonnie Hutchcroft (GBR) from the same team, who grew up in the area commented: 'I’ve raced around the Island before. I’m really proud to be involved with these boats, we could even break some records. We hope to be the fastest round the Island but the main thing will be that we’re bringing together these five state-of-the-art, one design boats and will be sailing with everyone else.'

Greg Homann, one of the crew aboard ‘Volvo’ lives on the Isle of Wight and explained how he felt about doing the race around sailing ground he knows so well: 'It’s going to be exciting doing the (JPMorgan Asset Management) Round the Island Race and will be the first time we’ll be competing in a proper offshore race. It’s going to be really interesting to see how they go. We’re really looking forward to it!'

Another team who will be visiting their old stomping ground is the Hayling Island based crew, ‘Basilica’ who are looking forward to sailing in front of a home crowd. Onboard will be Dee Caffari, fresh from her record breaking solo circumnavigation of the globe ‘the wrong way round’, against winds and currents onboard her Challenge 72 Aviva.

Team Basilica skipper James Grant (GBR) explained: 'Having Dee on board Basilica for the (JPMorgan Asset Management) Round the Island Race is fantastic news for everyone. Her round the world accomplishment is awe inspiring and we hope we can add a Round the Island race victory, possibly even a new record, to her long list of accomplishments.'

The Volvo Extreme 40 Class will start the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race with the other competing multihulls at 06.20hrs. The fleet start from the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, racing westabout to The Needles, round St Catherine's Point, the Bembridge Ledge buoy, and then back into the Solent finishing at the Royal Yacht Squadron line.

The JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race Village will be open from midday on both Friday 2 and Race Day, Saturday 3 June. It will close at midnight on Friday and one o’clock a.m on Saturday. Live entertainment will begin at 8pm on Friday and 4.30pm on Saturday.

Further information can be found at www.roundtheisland.org.uk