It was a blustery, sunny day giving perfect weather for The "Round the Island Race 2015". 1584 boats racing around the Isle of Wight, approximately 60 miles. Neap tides were 3 days prior to the start of the race, with high water at Cowes being around 08.30. Racing started at 07.00 with the large boats, and the smallest boats started last.

We spent the night in Newtown Creek, ready to report on the Race early next morning. A couple of French boats arrived late from France to take part in the race. The morning of the race we headed towards Yarmouth moorings to watch the first race boats head past Yarmouth and Hurst Castle.

The wind started as westerly 3-4, then slowly built during the morning and became more south westerly 4-5, giving the boats a fast sleigh ride with spinnakers along south side of the Isle of Wight. One boat with 6 crew ran aground on rocks on Dunnose Point.

With over 1500 boats and 16,000 competitors, and a blustery south westerly breeze the race is a challenging one even for experienced skippers and crews. The lifeboats and Solent radio were busy directing rescues the first half of day when most of the casualties happened.

MCA spokesman reported there were 3 head injuries, 1 man overboard, 1 broken arm, 2 people air lifted to hospital.

It was a fast race due to weather conditions and close to previous records.

Full results can be found here.

The stats...

  • Weather - west/south west 3 to 5, sunny. Wind getting up to mid twenty knots in the afternoon.
  • 1584 entries.
  • 1390 boats finished.
  • 11 disqualified.
  • 103 retired.
  • 16,000 competitors.
  • By 14.00 most of the boats had passed St Catherines Point with only the smallest boats left to pass.
  • by 16.00 500 35% of the boats had finished.
  • Monohull line honours - 100ft Leopard which finished at 1140.
  • Multihull line honours - The trimaran - Concise 10, finishing at 1040, in 3 hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds.
  • The new GC32 foiling catamarans crossed the line just after 1100, led by Sultanate of Oman and Alinghi.
  • Classic 38 1939 Sloop Whooper (Laurent Giles one-off) won the Gold Roman Bowl.