David Dimbleby to fire starting cannon in J.P.Morgan Round the Island Race
by Peta Stuart-Hunt, ISC Race Press Officer 30 Apr 2014 01:50 PDT
21 June 2014
David Dimbleby on board his boat 'Rocket' for the BBC One series 'Britain and the Sea' © BBC Media Centre
The Island Sailing Club and J.P. Morgan Asset Management are delighted to announce that the BBC TV commentator and presenter of BBC's long-running programme 'Question Time', David Dimbleby, will fire the 0630 first start gun from the Royal Yacht Squadron Platform and also compete in the 2014 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on Saturday 21st June. David will also attend the pre-Race Press Conference on Friday 20th June in Cowes Yacht Haven to officially launch the Race weekend.
David has previously taken part in the Round the Island Race in the 1960s, on a Scod, but spent the first half of the race in the cabin being ill as they went through what the Times later referred to as 'Atlantic seas off Hurst'! These days he does most of his sailing in the Summer in the South West on 'Rocket', built for him in 1980.
His RTI Race experience on June 21st should be far less gruelling as he is being joined by his son, 16 year-old Fred, on board a Farr 65 entered by Official Car Partner to the Race, Volvo Car UK. The pair will be racing with Team Volvo sailors Luke Patience (a 2012 Silver Medallist) and Elliot Willis (2 x World Champion) who are campaigning for Gold in Rio 2016 in the Men's 470 class.
The Island Sailing Club is grateful for the continued support of the Race Title Sponsor, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and the Race Partners for 2014: Dream Yacht Charter, Haven Knox-Johnston, Henri Lloyd, Nautica Watches, Old Pulteney Whisky, Raymarine, Red Funnel, Volvo Car UK.
Official Race Charity: The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
For more information on the Race and how to enter, please visit www.roundtheisland.org.uk and rtir/me.entries.