Latest - Round the Island Race

by Sail-World on 4 Jun 2006 Double gold medallist Shirley Robertson fired the first gun in this year’s JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race which got underway at 06:00 Saturday 3 June.

Holmatro skippered by Mitch Booth has taken overall line honours, finishing at 14:41 hours. Race Control reports that positions on the water were Holmatro first at 14.41, Tommy Hilfiger second at 14.43 and Motorola third at 14.45. Close racing after over 8 hours on the water!

Yacht designer Jeremy Rogers helmed his Contessa 26 Rosina of Beaulieu to win the Gold Roman Bowl in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. The team was very much a family affair with his two sons, Simon looking after the sail trim and Kit on the bow.

Rosina of Beaulieu has previously won the coveted top trophy in 2002 and 2003 but the family was surprised to come out on top this time. Simon commented: 'In the light conditions, it was a very testing race. You had to concentrate on boat speed the whole time and really didn’t know where anyone else was. We were fortunate to be one of the last boats to get through The Needles. Had there been a keeper in the lighthouse we hope he might have been impressed, as we missed Goose Rock by only a couple of feet'.

Rosina of Beaulieu was bought by Jeremy Rogers in 1999 and has been lovingly restored. Jeremy is a former successful Admiral’s Cup and One Ton Cup skipper as well as Yachtsman of the Year in 1974. The family all live in Lymington where Kit, teaches science at the local secondary school.

In the light conditions which prevailed for much of the race, the smaller, lower-rated boats came off best. Second overall was the Folkboat Madelaine (Edward Donald and Liesa Jones) followed by no fewer than seven quarter tonners including Purple Haze (Tony Dodd) winner last year and placed fourth this time.

In the Monohulls the Charles Dunstone’s TP52 Red gained line honours with Panthera second and Atomic third.

Pete Goss on, Cornwall Playing for Success, took line honours in the Multihull Grand Prix and MOCRA classes.

Update Reports from roundtheisland.org.uk

22:04 -

The finish line has now closed. 750 boats finished the course within the time limit for the race.

20:24 -

The situation currently is:
680 boats have finished;
455 boats have retired;
447 boats are still racing;
3 boats have been disqualified.

The Gold Roman bowl may have been provisionally settled but the Silver Gilt Roman Bowl is still to play for! Who will continue racing into the sunset?!

19:10 -

Support boats are currently sweeping the course, checking to see that those still racing have an engine to get back should they need it.

A steady stream of boats is coming from Bembridge. 30 more are down at Bembridge Ledge where there is a nice westerly Force 3 to 4. In Sandown Bay there are still 60 to 70 boats with another 25 between Ventnor and St Catherine's. The backmarker Swan Dancer is still trying to get round St Catherine's. Boats still racing have to cross the finish line in Cowes by the time limit of 10pm. Will the breeze hold? Will they get there in time?

18:20 -

The current situation is that:
340 boats have finished
321 have retired
925 are still racing

17:55 -
Race control reports that the tail end boat, Swandancer, is crossing Freshwater Bay at the moment.

The wind is W 10 knots. There are 300 boats between Ryde and Bembridge; 50 off Bembridge Ledge; 100 in Sandown Bay; 100 between St Catherine's Point and Sandown Bay; and 50 yet to round St Catherine's Point.

16:59 -

The Ellen MacArthur Trust boat Scarlet Oyster is approaching the finish line after a wonderful day's racing where the boat was run entirely by the younsters. They have 7 knots of boatspeed and there is now a great sea breeze!

16:20 -

Andy Hazell on board Mike Browne's The Big Grin reports that they were first sports boat across the finish line!

16:05 -

Currently there are few boats between the finish line and Ryde, but beyond that at Bembridge there is a carpet of sails where the bulk of the fleet are making their way round the Eastern end of the Isle of Wight ready for the final strait.

15:53 -

Pete Goss on Cornwall Playing for Success has won the Freedom Challenge Bowl by taking line honours in the Multihull Grand Prix and MOCRA classes.

15:34 -

Monohulls - Charles Dunstone’s Red, the TP52, gains line honours with Panthera second and Atomic third. John Merricks has also now finished as well as the Volvo VX40, Brasilica, and Bear of Britain.

The Inspire High School Challenge boats are off Seaview with a battle taking place - Isle of Wight College have overtaken Cowes High School!

15:16 -

Red (TP52) is the leading monohull on the water due to finish in 100 metres. Second looks as though it may be Atomic (Farr 45).

The first IRC 6 boat has passed St Catherine's Point - Anne Louise. There are 100 boats west of St Catherine's still, but the wind has picked up to SW 15 knots.

Event website: http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk