The Island Sailing Club in Cowes has announced that Prince Michael of Kent GCVO has been confirmed as the Race Starter for the 2016 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on Saturday 2nd July.
Prince Michael will join Race officials on the Royal Yacht Squadron platform to commence the spectacular starting sequence and fire the cannon signifying the first of 11 class starts at 08:30.
Prince Michael is not competing in the Race and is visiting the Isle of Wight to carry out a number of official visits.
The spectacular Round the Island Race continues to attract an extraordinarily eclectic mix of entries whether it be the boats or their owners (and sometimes both); enthusiastic mariners from all walks of life, and representing all levels of the sport and all age groups.
The organisers say they are delighted that the entries have now started to ramp up and are currently at 1,140 – a J/105 Jos of Hamble registered at #1,000.
In amongst those boats jostling for position in the second Class start at 08:40 on 2nd July (Multihulls Grand Prix and MOCRA Racing (LOA 9.15m and over) are a number of well-known names not least of which are the MOD 70 multis; the duelling duo Phaedo^3 and Concise 10.
As well as owning the phenomenally successful record-breaking Phaedo^3, Lloyd Thornburg from New Mexico, USA, also jointly skippers the boat with legendary sailor, Brian Thompson, one of the world’s best-known sailors, especially in the field of multihull sailing and offshore races and records. Phaedo^3, is also stacked with a core of professional sailing talent including navigator, Miles Seddon and Sam Goodchild.
Lloyd says he’s “very excited to be participating in the Round the Island Race for the first time.”
Their Race rival is Concise 10, who pipped Phaedo^3 to the post by 12 seconds in the Round Barbados Race in January. Team Directors, Tony Lawson and Ned Collier Wakefield, launched Team Concise in August 2006, with the intention of helping young British sailors forge a future in competitive offshore racing. This team is absolutely meeting its objectives.
On board for this year’s Race are: Ned Collier Wakefield, Jonny Malbon, Paul Larson, John Hamilton, Martin Watts, Fraser Brown and Tom Dawson.
Ned Collier Wakefield, Skipper/ Team Director – Team Concise said:
“The Round the Island Race is something that we look forward to each year and the iconic event certainly shouldn’t disappoint with two MODs racing this year. After taking a fairly easy line honours last year the team and myself are expecting a closely fought race between ourselves and Phaedo. Hopefully the spectacle doesn’t disappoint.”
Standard entries to compete in the 2016 Round the Island Race close at midnight on Saturday 18th June. Sign up at rtir.me/entries.
Featured photo: © Prince Michael of Kent
