solenthandbook.com 26 ROUND THE ISLAND RACE The annual Round the Island Race has become an iconic sporting event with the first race taking place in 1931. Competitors come from all over the UK and worldwide to follow the 50 nautical mile course around the Isle of Wight. Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes at 6am, the fleet race westabout to The Needles, pass St Catherine’s Point, round Bembridge Ledge buoy, and back into the Solent to the finish line at Cowes. The race regularly attracts over 1,100 boats and around 7,000 sailors and is one of the largest yacht races in the world. Enthusiastic amateurs and families compete on the same racecourse as elite pros and Olympians, making it such a special one-off sporting occasion. For many, the aim of the day is to enjoy an incredible day on the water with friends and family but for others there are prizes to be won and records to break. The course records stand at 3h 43m 50s for a monohull boat, set by Mike Slade on ICAP Leopard in 2013, and 2h 22m 23s for a multihull boat, set by Ned Collier Wakefield on Concise 10 in 2017. Few things can compare to the sight of hundreds of boats racing, whether you’re within the fleet yourself or spectating onshore from one of the many excellent vantage points on the stunning Isle of Wight coastline. Race Director, David Atkinson said: “The Race Team are incredibly excited to launch this year’s edition of the race, and with an earlier date, it’s sure to be an exhilarating start to the 2024 Summer Sailing Season. We carefully choose the start time and date to provide the ROUND THE ISLAND RACE The incredible sight of the Round the Island fleet. Paul Wyeth Cowes inshore lifeboat Sheena Louise provides race cover. Nick Edwards - RNLI