As entries pass the 1,000 mark for this year’s Round the Island Race, all eyes are on the front runners that will lead the fleet away from the Royal Yacht Squadron start line on Saturday 1st July.
The new boat on the Solent scene this season is Notorious, a stunning Maxi 72 owned by Peter Morton, a long-time local in Cowes, who will skipper the boat in this year’s Round the Island Race.
Boat captain Sam Haines says:
“We are really looking forward to the race, many of our crew are local to the Island so we’re incredibly proud of how iconic the race has become all over the world.
“If the weather is kind to us with plenty of wind we’re hoping to go out and come back with line honours and some trophies. It will be a great practice for the RORC Fastnet race – fine-tuning our teamwork when going through manoeuvres, there are a lot of corners on the racecourse.
“I have often cycled around the Isle of Wight on race day and it’s so great to see so many happy spectators along the coastline watching the spectacular scene of hundreds of boats of all sizes racing together. I’d highly recommend everyone gets on a boat or watches the race from the shore.”
The cannons will fire at 08:00 from the Royal Yacht Squadron on Saturday 1st July to herald the first fleet start (Open 60; IRC Group 0; IRC Group 1; Class 40; Clipper Yachts). This is an ideal place to watch the starting sequence or on Cowes Green. For a great Observation Point Guide for both the Isle of Wight and mainland vantage points visit the event website (The Race / The Course section).
Standard entries close at 23:59 on Saturday 17th June, so if your boat isn’t already entered for the race, visit the event website at www.roundtheisland.org.uk for all the information you need and the online entry form. Late entries will be available until 12:00 on Wednesday 28th June.
Sailing or Yacht Club teams are in the running for 4 trophies. You just need 3 boats to form a Club team. The entry fee is £40 per team and each Club can enter more than one team.
The prizes up for grabs are:
- The Methuselah Trophy awarded for the Overall IRC Team
- The Jeroboam Trophy awarded for the 2nd Overall IRC Team
- The Arun Yacht Club Team Challenge Trophy awarded for the Overall ISCRS Team
- The Jeroboam Trophy awarded for the 2nd Overall ISCRS Team
The Island Sailing Club are staging an Official Race Village in Cowes Yacht Haven. It is free to enter and will welcome all competitors, supporters, spectators and visitors to enjoy drinks and food from 17:00 on Friday 30th June and throughout race day and evening until midnight.
Live bands will entertain the crowds on Saturday from early evening. The Race Partners (Helly Hansen and B&G), Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Project Q and the Island Sailing Club will have stands offering race support, discounts, games and giveaways.
B&G in partnership with Hudson Marine will be offering on-site shoreside support with the B&G Event Van, providing a Health Clinic in Mercury Yacht Harbour, Hamble on Wednesday 28th, Thursday 29th and Friday 30th June, as well as being onsite at the Race Village in Cowes Yacht Haven on Saturday 1st July.
Helly Hansen in partnership with the RNLI will hold a Lifejacket Clinic outside the Helly Hansen Cowes store (121 High St, Cowes, PO31 7AY) on Friday 30th June, between 15:00 and 19:00.
Dame Ellen MacArthur is taking on Round the Island Race in celebration of her charity’s 20th birthday. She will take the helm of the Trust’s flagship boat Solent Hero and will be accompanied by 24 young people following their cancer treatment aboard four yachts.
Visit the Trust’s stand on Saturday 1st July in the Race Village for some fun family games.
This year, the charity is launching its #200for20 Birthday Challenge on the day of Round the Island Race, with Dame Ellen encouraging entrants to raise £200 or £20 for the Trust’s 20th anniversary. Donations of £20 can be made by texting RACEFORALL to 70460* or visit their JustGiving page ‘2023 Round the Island Race’.
The race is also supporting the new charity Project Q Foundation, which raises funds and awareness to advance Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery locally, nationally and internationally.
The 2023 Sailing Instructions will be issued on 21st June on the event website www.roundtheisland.org.uk, and for all the latest news follow the race on social media @roundtheisland and #RoundTheIsland #RaceForAll.
