Extreme 40s in the RTI

New faces aboard the 40ft catamaran fleet

Cowes, Isle of Wight, will mark the next stop on the iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series when four boats take part in the infamous 55-mile JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Starting early morning on 23 June, Offshore Challenges Sailing Team , Basilica , ABN AMRO and JPMorgan Asset Management will be putting in a challenge at this iShares Endurance Race not only for line honours but also for a course record.

The JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race is the second of three iShares Endurance Races in the 2007 Extreme 40 sailing calendar, the core of which are four premier European-based iShares Cup events where the Extreme 40 fleet is pitted against each other in three days of competitive racing.

Joining the fleet for this weekend's event will be Dame Ellen MacArthur on board JPMorgan Asset Management representing the Ellen MacArthur Trust, the official charity of the race for the second year running.  "JPMorgan Asset Management has been a big supporter of the Trust so it's great to be able to actively support their fundraising efforts.  I'm really excited about sailing an Extreme 40 on Saturday; it's fast, fun and thrilling for both those watching and those on the boat. I helped kick off the iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series on the River Thames in May and I'm really looking forward to Extreme 40 again and hopefully we will get around the island in good time," she said.

The Extreme 40s will be putting in last minute training on Friday 22 June from 1400 hours just off the Green, by the Royal Yacht Squadron, giving spectators the chance to watch the all-star crews as they warm-up for the race due to start at 0500 hours on Saturday morning.

Alan Hillman, Race Manager for the iShares Cup said, "After the 82-mile, light wind Bol d'Or Mirabaud marathon last weekend, this 55-mile course will feel like a sprint run for the Extreme 40s. The teams are itching to take part in this iShares Endurance Race and to impress the 1,600 other boats and countless spectators with their grace and speed."

The Extreme 40s will be competing in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race for only the second time and with last year's winner Holmatro unable to defend their title, the Extreme 40 line honours could belong to any of the four boats.

In addition to competing for line and class honours, the Extreme 40s have also put in a challenge for the Round the Island record, currently set at 3 hours 8 minutes and 29 seconds. "Racing for a record always adds an extra incentive as the Extreme 40s will be pitted against each other and also against the stopwatch," Hillman continued.  "The weather and sea state will play a big role in our progress.  If it's really windy and choppy, and we push the boats too hard, we could see some unexpected cartwheels and nose dives from the fleet.  The weather will have to be just right if we are to make a dent in the record and get around but we'll be trying all the same."

Taking part in the annual race is Basilica with James Grant taking the helm. "The Extreme 40s are an inshore design, but it's good to get them out for some offshore racing and if the breeze is a good NNW we could be on course to break the record," he said.

Recent winner of the inaugural iShares Cup event in Munich, Basilica will sail with a changed team during the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, which includes Nick Houchen, Tim Pensold, James George and owner Nick Gorringe. "Our main focus for the season are the iShares Cup events, but it's good to do some endurance races and with all the sailing history the event encompasses, this event is the perfect place to start," Grant concluded.

Fresh from the Bol d'Or Mirabaud, Offshore Challenges Sailing Team , skippered by Australian Nick Moloney, has called up British America's Cup sailor David Carr and new recruits Offshore Challenges Sailing Team Manager, Charles Darbyshire and bowman Alec Fraser.

ABN AMRO , driven by Jonnie Hutchcroft will compete with owner Roland Lewis, Sam Chaddar, Joff Garcka and Leo Farrow and for the first time JPMorgan Asset Management will send a boat into the foray with Greg Homann a regular crew for Holmatro , taking the helm with Ellen MacArthur, Nick Hutton and America's Cup mastman George Skuodas on board.