Whether you're taking part, a spectator or a sailing fan interested in the event, you'll find all the information you need here on the official website. Over the coming weeks we'll be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest news and info from event headquarters in Cowes - and during the event itself, you'll be able to follow the racing live with our comprehensive coverage of news, pictures, weather plus, of course, the unbeatable JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island results service!
The annual JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, is one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar. Competitors come from Europe and the USA, as well as all over the UK, to follow the 50 mile course round the Isle of Wight.
Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the fleet races westabout, to The Needles, round St Catherine's Point and Bembridge Ledge buoy back into the Solent. Spectators can find many vantage points, both on the mainland and Isle of Wight, to watch the event progress.
Over 60 prizes are awarded for the event and, recognising the Sea Britain and Trafalgar 200 celebrations, the Island Sailing Club will be introducing the Trafalgar 200 Trophy for the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2005. Every boat completing the race receives a memento of the occasion.
Whether you compete regularly or are new to the sport, you will enjoy superb racing in some of the country's best sailing waters. Whilst the fastest multihull record stands at just over three hours, the bulk of the fleet crosses the line during the late afternoon or early evening and it is often the smaller craft that carry off the top prizes!
The original idea for the Island Sailing Club's Round the Island Race came from member Major Cyril Windeler. In 1930 he suggested a handicap race around the Isle of Wight which could cater for smaller boats – those in the category 5 to 25 tons. He may, at that time, have been enjoying a quiet joke at the expense of the Royal Yacht Squadron, who had stated that their members must own a yacht of minimum 30 tons!
The first race took place in 1931 with 25 entries and it was indeed one of the smaller boats which won. The successful skipper, Peter Brett, competed in a 22 foot Cornish fishing boat "Merry Conceit". He had bought it, in partnership with his friend Henry Trefusis, from the builders in Looe, for the sum of L45.
The top trophy then, as now, was the Gold Roman Bowl. The original had been seen on display in a goldsmiths near the site of a Roman wharf in London. It had been dredged up from the River Thames. Major Windeler so loved the design he ordered a replica to be made by Bruce Benzie, the Cowes jewellers.
Drama followed in 1933 when the leading yacht, Isaac Bell's "Rosemary IV", lost her mainsail just before the finish line. By setting a trysail, she just managed to beat her rival, "Felise", by 46 seconds. Meanwhile, Dr R T Cooke's 32 year old cutter "Enid" sprang a leak and, in spite of frantic pumping, sank off Alum Bay
After one of the early races, one of the competitors suggested to winner Chris Ratsey, of the Cowes sailmakers and then Rear Commodore of the ISC, that "Evenlode" had fouled his yacht. So, acting like a true gentleman, Ratsey of course declined the trophy. Major Windeler was so impressed with this Corinthian spirit that he bought a Silver Roman Bowl and presented it to Chris Ratsey as a special prize. It is still awarded but now for the second placed yacht overall in IRC. Chris Ratsey went on to win the Gold Roman Bowl, fair and square, in 1938.
It was not until the outbreak of World War II in 1939 that Major Windeler finally won his trophy, sailing a 7 ton auxiliary cutter "Kalliste" designed by Jack Giles. The triumph was quickly followed by a ban on private, leisure sailing for the duration of the war but the Round the Island Race resumed in the peace of 1946 under Major Sir Philip Hunloke as Commodore.
From that time, entry numbers steadily increased, from 105 in 1950, to 1,309 in the mid 1980s. A record turnout of 1,813 was seen in 1989, the Centenary of the Island Sailing Club. Until the mid 1970s, the event demanded maximum dedication from the race officers, as there was no time limit. Senior Island Sailing Club members have vivid memories of keeping a lonely vigil in a launch until long after dark, awaiting the stragglers. Three green lights on a pole, powered by a car battery, marked the line. The ISC race management team, afloat and ashore, now numbers some 120.
Even during his term as Prime Minister, The Rt. Honourable Sir Edward Heath KG, MBE, MP was a keen supporter of sailing. He won the Round the Island Race four times; three of them in consecutive years in the early 1970s on "Morning Cloud II" and "Morning Cloud III". In 1980 he took the top trophy once more in "Morning Cloud IV". The Gold Roman Bowl has only ever been won by two women – Mrs Tobin on "Barbar" in 1954 and Julia Dane on "Glass Onion" in 1982.
Record breaking has become an important feature of the race, especially since a multihull class was introduced in 1961. The course record in 1962 was set by Don Robertson at 5 hours 50 minutes. On the 50th anniversary of the race in 1986, things had speeded up and "Paragon", sailed by Mike Whipp and Olympic medallist Rodney Pattison, flew round in 3 hours 55 minutes and 28 seconds, creating a new record. The current multihull record of 3 hours 10 minutes and 11 seconds has stood since 2001, held by Francis Joyon, who went on to break the round-the-world single handed record in 2004. Property developer and current record holder, Mike Slade has broken the monohull record on three occasions, firstly in 1991 sailing "Ocean Leopard". He then did 23 minutes better in 1996 sailing "Hoya Longabarda" and set the current record in 2001 with "Skandia Life Leopard" at 4 hours 5 minutes and 40 seconds.
Race management procedures have also become faster. In the early 1970s the General Electric Information Service Company began to organise race results, which meant the onerous task of calculating times and rating factors did not have to be carried out manually. A week before the race, the GEISCO equipment would arrive to be installed in the Club's reading room. It would take engineers a full day to set it up the system and connect to lines specially provided by the GPO. Results would not be calculated until the final deadline of 9.30pm with the lucky winners called out by the Club Secretary the following morning.
Today, results are processed by Next Generation Results who can ensure that hand-written finishing records reach the results room, still known as "The Bunker" despite Cowes Combined Clubs' excellent new facilities, within a matter of minutes. Competitors and spectators alike can see fast on-screen results flashed up on event television sites in Cowes or pick them up from around the world via the dedicated website.
In recent years the Round the Island Race has become a popular challenge for sailors at all levels of experience and abilities, attracting classic yachts such as the elegant J Class "Velsheda" as well as state-of-art, record-breaking greyhounds. Olympic gold medallists have tried their luck in the Sportsboat Rule class whilst grand old ladies of the sea, "Suhaili" and "Lively Lady", have given more modern designs a run for their money.
The race often runs true to Cyril Windeler's original aspirations, with small boats, perhaps finishing well into the evening, carrying off the top prize. The ISC Rating System division now exceeds the regular racers. Entries come from all over the south and east coasts of England as well as from France, Belgium and Germany. 2004 saw our first Croatian entry. Everyone enjoys the superb day's racing, as one of our competitors this year commented: "It's the Grand National of sailing. The greatest spectacle ever."