The annual 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.
A new record has been set in one of the world's largest yacht races, taking place around the Isle of Wight. Organisers of the 85th Round the Island Race said "stronger than expected" offshore winds had led to the cancellation of some classes. However, Lloyd Thornburg's MOD70 trimaran, Phaedo 3, finished the 50-nautical mile race in two hours, 23 minutes and 23 seconds. The previous record was set by Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie in 2013. He completed the course in two hours and 52 minutes - dedicating his achievement to fellow Olympic sailor Andrew Simpson who died in 2013.
More than 1,500 boats registered to take part in the race, which attracts about 16,000 sailors
According to BBC Weather, a force 4-6 westerly breeze was forecast for Saturday's race. The coastguard said several boats were unable to take part due to the conditions, others had to pull out during the event due to "lost rigging and rudders" and one boat sank. Meanwhile, a number of craft lost their masts and several people were injured or rescued, including a 38-year-old man who suffered minor head injuries after being hit by the boom of a yacht.
More than 1,500 boats were registered to take part in the race, which started and ended at Cowes and attracted about 16,000 sailors from across the UK, Europe and the US.
I crewed in an Elan 33 ‘Panache’ and came 8th in class (38 boats) and 66th overall.
The annual Round the Island Race got off to an exciting start on Saturday 2nd July, with HRH Prince Michael of Kent firing the first gun at 8.30am. It was a fast-paced and action-packed day of broken records and aroung 1,500 yachts vying for the win.
Sir Keith Mills’ FAST 40+ Invictus had a few big names on board, including Invictus Games competitor Zoe Williams and Prince Harry, following a long-standing invitation to compete in the Race this year. They just missed out on winning first IRC yacht on corrected time, settlling instead for second place. The main prize went to Bernard Langley’s TP52 Gladiator. which powered around the course to become the second monohull to finish, crossing the line less than four and a half hours after the start.
Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70 trimaran Phaedo^3 tore round the course in two hours 23 minutes and 23 seconds, smashing Sir Ben Ainslie’s 2013 record. Despite testing conditions and winds of 40 knots, only a few of the fleet withdrew from the competition.
In a dramatic turn one boat, owned by the Commodore of Island Sailing Club, was dismasted and sunk just off the Needles.