Home > News > 2007 > 6 > 12 >

Round the Island - June 23rd

The JP Morgan Fleming Round the Island Race first sailed in 1931 and is now one of the world's largest and most famous yachting races attracting an annual entry of around 1600 boats. Any boats, from cruiser to maxi yacht, and anyone from Olympic medallist - Shirley Robertson will be racing this year - to weekend sailor, can compete (handicaps ensure a fair race). Spinnaker sails in all the colours of the rainbow billowing in the wind create a dazzling sight on the Solent.

This year, the festivities will start a day earlier with the addition of an Event Village in Cowes Yacht Haven from 12pm on Friday 22nd, plus there's the chance to see the lightweight, high-speed Extreme 40 fleet in action on the Solent between 4pm and 6pm on the Friday.

The fleet races west to The Needles, round St Catherine's Point and back into the Solent - a 55 mile course. There are many vantage points for spectators, visit the website for full details, www.roundtheisland.org.uk

If you really want to get up close and personal, a two and a half hour cruise on board the Ramblin' Rose leaves Yarmouth at 07.30 on Saturday 23 June (time to be confirmed) for a one-way trip amongst the fleet of yachts as far as the Needles Lighthouse, dropping off at Alum Bay. Cost: £8 adult, £6 Children. Also departing at the same time will be Skye Rose, a fast jet boat, for a similar trip, cost £15 per head. Limited spaces so booking required. Tel. 01983 761587 or e-mail info@needlespleasurecruises.co.uk for more information. Why not take the Southern Vectis open-top bus back to Yarmouth? For full details, visit www.islandbuses.info

Stop press...Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is to take part in the Isle of Wight's Round the Island Race this year. Sir Robin, who was the first man to perform a single-handed circumnavigation of the globe between1968-69, will enter his boat 'Grey Power'.