on the water
Island Life - June/July 2010
often flying their colourful spinnakers
to 10 hours, it does totally depend on
to be won and every single finisher
racing west from Cowes. The fleet
the weather and the class of boat. In
receives a special Tankard to mark the
then rounds St Catherine's Point,
2008, the breeze was up and the first
occasion.
races around Bembridge Ledge buoy
boat home, an Extreme 40, blasted
and heads back into the Solent to the
round in a staggering 3 hours 23
that from humble beginnings in 1931
Cowes finish line.
minutes and 50 seconds, which meant
when there were just 25 boats on the
Record-breaking has become an
Now in its 79th year, it’s fair to say
the crew was back for breakfast.
start line, the Round the Island Race
important feature of the race with the
However for others at the back of the
has become one of the great British
current multihull record of 3 hours 10
fleet it can be a long haul, taking up to
summer sporting occasions, ranking
minutes and 11 seconds being held
12 hours to complete. So why do so
alongside Ascot, the Boat Race,
by Francis Joyon since 2001. Property
many sailors compete year after year?
Wimbledon and the London Marathon.
developer and current record holder
It’s all about the experience, the fun,
A quick scan of the entry list reveals
Mike Slade has broken the monohull
the atmosphere, and the competition.
the extraordinary diversity of the classes
record on four occasions, most recently
There are two key accolades to this
taking part, from small day boats to
in 2008 on board ICAP Leopard in 3
race, to take line honours (i.e. fastest
high tech maxi yachts. Amateur sailing
hours 53 minutes 5 seconds.
boat round) and the overall winners,
enthusiasts, families, work colleagues
which are rated on a handicap system.
and international visitors are competing
However, there are some 60 trophies
against professional skippers, Olympic
Whilst the majority of the fleet will
generally finish the race within eight
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