Cowes Port Handbook 2014-2015 April 2014 | Page 99

COWES PORT HANDBOOK 2014 - 2015

J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race
Saturday, 21 June

Peter Mumford - Beken of Cowes

The annual J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race,
organised by the Island Sailing Club, is a one-day yacht race around the
Isle of Wight. The race regularly attracts over 1,700 boats and around
16,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world and
the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK after the London
Marathon and the Great North and South Runs.
Competitors come from all over the UK, other parts of Europe and as
far away as the USA to follow the 50 nautical mile course round the Isle
of Wight. Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes,
the fleet races west-about, to The Needles, round St Catherine’s Point
and Bembridge Ledge buoy, and back into the Solent to the finish line at
Cowes. Spectators can find many vantage points, both on the mainland
and Isle of Wight, to watch the race progress. The first start in Cowes is
at 0630 on 21 June.
The race is a great opportunity to watch world-renowned sailors racing
against families and first time racers. Although the majority of the fleet
will take many hours to complete the race, the course records stand at 3h
43m 50s for a monohull boat, set by Mike Slade on ICAP Leopard in 2013,
and 2h 52m 15s for a multihull boat, set by Sir Ben Ainslie on J.P. Morgan
BAR also in 2013. www.roundtheisland.org.uk

Peter Mumford - Beken of Cowes

COWES.co.uk

99