The official line

An overall report from Saturday's JPMorgan Round the Island Race, plus list of prize winners

Saturday's JPMorgan Round the Island Race took place on the hottest day of the year so far. The 2006 event marked the 75th anniversary of Island Sailing Club's premier event, the world's largest yacht race save only for Italy's Barcolana and the third largest, annual, participative sporting event in the UK.

Bright and early, the first start got underway at 6am with Mike Golding in Ecover lining up against Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in Grey Power in the Open 60 class. Both skippers will be entering the Velux 5 Oceans Race around the world later this year, but for the Round the Island they were in less competitive mode. Ecover was sailing with Rod Carr, Chief Executive of the Royal Yachting Association, to promote The Green Blue environmental project. For Robin the race gave the opportunity for a reunion with sailing friends who had crewed together in the Admiral’s Cup in the 1970s.

The new generation Volvo Extreme 40s were racing in the event for the first time, following their dramatic Grand Prix off Portsmouth last week. Guest crews included Dee Caffari on Basilica and Olympic medallist Joe Glanfield on Volvo Ocean Race. In the light northerly 5 knot breeze the VX40s made their way to the front of the fleet on the 50 mile course but the going was slow. Returning to the Solent after eight hours’ sailing they also had to contend with an adverse tide and patches of dead calm, which made tactics all important. The Dutch boat Holmatro skippered by Mitch Booth chose the island side, edging through the anchored yachts in Osborne Bay within sight of the finish to take line honours at the 11th hour. Meanwhile the leader prior to this, Randy Smyth's Tommy Hilfiger and Conrad Humphreys' Motorola were busy fighting it out on a more northerly course in the hope of finding more wind. Those watching from the shore saw the boats crabbing painfully slowly towards the line. Holmatro finally broke free from Norris Point, found a brief zephyr and with 100 metres to go was able to head for a first place at 6 knots.

As her round the world record breaking trimaran B&Q/Castorama is currently being shipped back from the Far East, Dame Ellen MacArthur sailed as a guest of title sponsors JPMorgan Asset Management on the Farr 52 Chernikeef 2. Meanwhile Scarlet Oyster was competing to raise funds for the Ellen MacArthur Trust, a charity which encourages young sailors recovering or in remission from cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. Five of them crewed Scarlet Oyster for the race. Skipper Gordon Appleby said: “The youngsters run the boat. I’m there to make the tea!” His crew certainly worked hard to come through with the goods. The overall IRC results saw Scarlet Oyster beat Chernikeef 2 by nearly two hours on corrected time. Dan Monk (20) sailed for the Trust last year, then was rushed into hospital two days later for a bone marrow transplant. This was his first outing back on the water. On finishing he passed his hallmark comment “Quality!” to EMT Patron Ellen. “Quality back - well done and see you ashore” came the reply from Ellen.

Five teams of local Isle of Wight youngsters were competing against each other in identical J/80 sportsboats for the ‘Inspire High School Challenge’. This initiative was backed by the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership and involved the students in running their entire projects, from finding a sponsor to managing the budget, as well as racing their boat and in some cases learning to sail. After 10 hours’ close racing the winners were Cowes High School just seven minutes ahead of Isle of Wight College. The team won the Raymarine Young Sailor Trophy.

Wendy Ballantine (81) has enjoyed sailing ever since she served in the WRNS during World War II. Wendy competed in the 25th and 50th anniversary Round the Island Races and was determined to race in the 75th! Friend Peter MacFarlane chartered a boat for Wendy who was joined by her daughters and son. Miss Demeanour not only finished ninth in class but did so with a limited sail wardrobe - only after the boat had left the mooring did they realise the big genoa was not on board. Wendy’s daughter Sue said “My mother had the time of her life. She did some helming and sail trimming and thoroughly enjoyed herself.”

The principal trophy, the Gold Roman Bowl was won by the Rogers family, sailing Rosina of Beaulieu, a boat that Jeremy Rogers designed more than 30 years ago. Read more about this here. The Silver Gilt Roman Bowl for the top boat in the ISC-rated section was won by Toucan Tango a Bavaria sailed by Chris Bean.

Pete Goss will be teamed with Paul Larsen in the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race this coming Sunday sailing their Sea Cart 40 trimaran Cornwall Playing for Success. They used the Round the Island Race as a shake down for the longer event and won the Dean & Reddyhoff Trophy as the first multihull on corrected time.

In IRC class 0, Stephen Plant’s new DK46 Atomic made a good start. They just touched the wreck at The Needles but then carried their asymmetric to St Catherine’s and were the first in class on the water at Bembridge. Atomic was neck-and-neck with sistership Rebel off Ryde, tacking in a virtually windless hole with the boat speed at under 1 knot and a strong adverse tide. Two hours later Atomic had a three-length lead, and by the finish had eased out to a three minute win on corrected time. Team Volvo with the RYA Keelboat Squad were third.

At the prize giving on Sunday 4th June, cheques were handed over to Prostate Cancer UK and the St Mary’s Hospital (Newport, Isle of Wight) chemotherapy unit, the official event charities to which competitors had made donations.

With the light conditions, the race also saw a huge number of retirements or boats finishing outside of the time limit. This included all of the ISC 7 classes save for John Guess' Seal 26 Evangeline, all but 15 boats in the four ISC 6 classes, all but 41 in the four ISC 5 classes, all the Contessa 26 and Folkboat classes and many many more.

As an initial reply to comments from competitors in this year’s race, Rod Nicholls, Rear Commodore of the Island Sailing Club and Chief Race Officer for the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, made the following statement:

“Everyone involved in the organisation and running of the 2006 JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race understands and shares the frustration experienced by the large number of mainly ISC-rated boats who failed to complete the race on Saturday. The Island Sailing Club cares passionately about its flagship event and about our competitors - particularly those that are perhaps taking part in their only race of the year. Through the efforts of literally hundreds of people at the Club, we take great pride in ensuring that the race is run as professionally as possible and that every competitor, no matter the shape and size of boat, has an enjoyable and rewarding race.

“You'll understand, of course, that there are some aspects of the race over which we have little control. We can't control the wind and we do have a limited choice of race weekends and resulting tidal conditions. However, as many have pointed out, it's all the more important that we get things right in the areas over which we do have some control. This year, for some of you at least, we didn't. Clearly we could have done a better job in organising the starting sequence to allow for possible problems with the later classes in light airs and, for those concerned, we would like to extend our sincerest apologies.

“Even after 75 years running this great race, this year's experience shows that we have something to learn and room for improvement. Thank you all for your comments, both good and bad. Please keep them coming. I promise you we will listen to each and every one and will discuss them fully when the Sailing and RIR Management Committees meet in the coming weeks. We will then let you know what steps we are taking to ensure that we give ALL competitors the best possible chance of an exciting and enjoyable race in 2007.”

The next JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race takes place on 23rd June 2007.

Trophy Winners as at Sunday 4th June 2006

OBSERVER TROPHY & JPMAM SALVER - First Monohull to finish
GBR76R RED Charles Dunstone

GOLD ROMAN BOWL & JPMAM SALVER - First Overall IRC
CO1219 ROSINA OF BEAULIEU Jeremy Rogers

SILVER ROMAN BOWL & JPMAM SALVER - Second Overall IRC
GBR707 MADELAINE Edward Donald & Leisa Jones

ROYAL THAMES CHALLENGE TROPHY & JPMAM SALVER - Third Overall IRC
GBR7278 TOM BOMBADIL Kevin George

ROYAL LONDON CHALLENGE CUP & JPMAM SALVER - Fourth Overall IRC
GBR7070 PURPLE HAZE Tony Dodd

JPMORGAN TROPHY - First Overall IRC Group 0
GBR54R ATOMIC Stephen Plant

VAPHIO CUP - First Overall IRC Group 1
GBR4835R COOL RUNNINGS Jochem Visser

IRC Division 1A
GBR133L JUMP Stewart Hawthorn

IRC Division 1B
IRL3008 YES! Adam Gosling

IRC Division 1C
GBR4835R COOL RUNNINGS Jochem Visser

YEOMAN CHALLENGE TROPHY - First Overall IRC Group 2
GBR2709R JUMPING JELLYFISH Jason Eker

IRC Division 2A
GBR8901R JAHMALI Mike & Sarah Wallis

IRC Division 2B
GBR2709R JUMPING JELLYFISH Jason Eker

IRC Division 2C
GBR3932R EXACTLY Christopher S Taylor

IRC Division 2D
GBR9290R MOJO Robin & Jill Stevenson

CHAMPAGNE MUMM CHALLENGE CUP - First Overall IRC Group 3
CO1219 ROSINA OF BEAULIEU Jeremy Rogers

IRC Division 3A
K86 SCOUNDREL Don Wood

IRC Division 3B
GBR4777 SPIRIT OF DEFIANCE Geoff Payne

IRC Division 3C
GBR502 CATCH Darren Marston

IRC Division 3D
CO1219 ROSINA OF BEAULIEU Jeremy Rogers

METHUSELAH TROPHY - Winning Team in IRC Groups 0 & 1
PYRA

JEROBOAM TROPHY - Winning Team in IRC Group 2
PYRA - 2

JEROBOAM TROPHY - Winning Team in IRC Group 3
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club

CONRAD RITBLAT TROPHY & JPMAM SALVER - First IRC to finish
GBR76R RED Charles Dunstone

SILVER GILT ROMAN BOWL & JPMAM SALVER - First Overall ISCRS
GBR8005T TOUCAN TANGO Chris Bean

FIDELIS TROPHY - Second Overall ISC Rating System
GBR8R MOONLIGHTING Martin & Sarah Chilver-Stainer

GEISCO TROPHY - Third Overall ISC Rating System
GBR9491T CORAL OF TEIGNMOUTH Julian Weyer Brown

JIMMIE READ MEMORIAL CUP - O/A Winner ISC Rating System Grp
GBR1289R DOODLE Jonathan Barker

ISC Rating System Division 4A
GBR1289R DOODLE Jonathan Barker

ISC Rating System Division 4B
GBR9844 FISH EAGLE OF BROOK Philip Blackwell

ISC Rating System Division 4C
GBR8854T DIZZY DI Keith Jones

FEDALAH CHALLENGE TROPHY - O/A Winner ISC Rating System Grp
GBR8005T TOUCAN TANGO Chris Bean

ISC Rating System Division 5A
GBR8743R AURELIA OF FALMOUTH Michael Robson

ISC Rating System Division 5B
GBR8005T TOUCAN TANGO Chris Bean

ISC Rating System Division 5C
GBR3591 NOKOMIS Andy Theobold & Adrian Moss

ISC Rating System Division 5D
GBR8R MOONLIGHTING Martin & Sarah Chilver-Stainer

SPREAD EAGLE TROPHY - O/A Winner ISC Rating System Grp 6
GBR3428T CLOUDY BAY Sara Grant & Richard Scarff

ISC Rating System Division 6A
K4733 BALOO Steve Holton

ISC Rating System Division 6B
GBR3428T CLOUDY BAY Sara Grant & Richard Scarff

ISC Rating System Division 6C
GBR2588R DRAKES DRUM Terry Rowe (Go Sail Ltd)

ISC Rating System Division 6D
GBR4914T FAT CHANCE Michael S Blair

TRAFALGAR 200 TROPHY - O/A Winner ISC Rating System Grp 7
GBR7271T EVANGELINE John Guess

ISC Rating System Division 7A
GBR7271T EVANGELINE John Guess

ARUN YACHT CLUB TEAM TROPHY - Winning ISC Rating System Team
Royal Victoria Yacht Club - 1

LLOYDS BANK TROPHY - First ISC Rating Sys boat to finish
GBR56R ZINGALA Roger Yeoman, Morgan Stanley

GOLDEN MILLER CHALLENGE CUP - Overall Winner GP/MOCRA M'hull
338 TINKERBELL Roderick Walker

TRIFLE TROPHY - 1st MOCRA Racing Multihull on corrected time
338 TINKERBELL Roderick Walker

HOYA TROPHY - First Bridgedeck Catamran Cruiser on corrected
28 ODETTE B R Thornley

DEAN & REDDYHOFF TROPHY - 1st Multihull GP on corrected time
GBR713M CORNWALL PLAYING FOR SUCCESS Pete Goss

FREEDOM CHALLENGE BOWL - First GP/MOCRA Multihull to finish
GBR713M CORNWALL PLAYING FOR SUCCESS Pete Goss

BRITANNIA CORPORATE EVENTS TROPHY - First Beneteau 40.7
GBR4070L INCOGNITO Paul McNamara & Tony Lowe

CONTESSA CHALLENGE & JACK KNIGHTS TROPHIES - First Contessa
CO525 LA CONTESSA ROSE William Daniels

WHALE TROPHY - First Cornish Shrimper on elapsed time
124X BUMBLE CHUGGER Robin Whittle

JUBILEE TROPHY - First 'Original' Gaffer on corrected time
2743 CYGNET OF LONDON Kim Hartley

SHAMROCK CHALLENGE TROPHY - First Original Gaffer to finish
DS2 JOLIE BRISE Daunty's School

DISCOVERY TROPHY - First 'Modern' Gaffer on corrected time
124X BUMBLE CHUGGER Robin Whittle

TURBO UK CUP - First Hunter 707
GBR7105N POCKET BATTLESHIP Mark Gillett

ROYAL SINGAPORE Y.C. CHALLENGE CUP - First Dragon
GBR698 JUBILEE Sarah Sullivan

PRINCE OF WALES CHALLENGE CUP - First International Etchells
GBR1014 PALAVER R E Thompson

LASER TROPHY - First Laser SB3
GBR3163 JOULES ARGO II Charlie & Alec Russell

SONATA SALVER - First Sonata
GBR8036 XANTZ Michael Tennant

LOMBARD MARINE FINANCE CHALLENGE TROPHY - First Open 60
03 ECOVER Mike Golding

EDWARD HEATH TROPHY - First Sportsboat on corrected time
GBR740 WHATEVER Barry Byham

EVANS TROPHY - First Sonar
GBR740 WHATEVER Barry Byham

WESTERLY SILVER JUBILEE CUP - First IRC Storm 33 to finish
GBR2191T EXEAT Guy Mcbride

HOYA TROPHY - First Sunsail 37
GBR9235T SUNSAIL 35 A Giller & M Steele

TRAPPER TROPHY - First IRC Trapper 300 on corrected time
GBR3766T GOOGLE-EYE Pat Stables

VOLVO TROPHY - First Volvo Extreme 40
VX3 HOLMATRO Mitch Booth

X-YACHTS TROPHY - First IRC X-Yacht on corrected time
GBR3932R EXACTLY Christopher S Taylor

First X332 Yacht on corrected time
GBR3932R EXACTLY Christopher S Taylor

BAVARIA OWNERS ASSOC CUP - 1st ISCRC Bavaria corrected time
GBR8549T MAGIC CLOUD Simon Jenkins

RAYMARINE RIR YOUNG SAILOR TROPHY
GBR81L COWES HIGH Cowes High School-Inspire

TELFORD GOBLET - First IRC Inst. of Civil Engineers Yacht
GBR3221T ROLLER COASTER Denis Bates

JOHN FRANKS TROPHY - First ISCRS Sailing School Boat
GBR2588R DRAKES DRUM Terry Rowe (Go Sail Ltd)

CECIL DONNE CUP - First IRC Old Carthusian Yacht
GBR4909R HIGH TENSION Andrew Given

SHEPHERDS TROPHY - First Chartered Surveyors Yacht IRC
K4476 WORKOUT Jeff Worboys

YACHTING MONTHLY FAMILY TROPHY - First family crewed boat
GBR9491T CORAL OF TEIGNMOUTH Julian Weyer Brown