Round the island 2009 date announced

2008 race will be a hard act to follow

The next J P Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race will take place on Saturday 20 June 2009 and entries open on 2 January. The Island Sailing Club is delighted to have the continued support of title sponsors J P Morgan Asset Management and race partners Bénéteau, Britannia Events, Dean & Reddyhoff, Nautica Watches, Old Pulteney Whisky, Raymarine, Red Funnel, St Margaret’s Direct and Volvo.

Records were broken in 2008. Not only did Mike Slade’s ICAP Leopard achieve a new monohull race time but the race also attracted the biggest ever entry at 1,875. A fantastic £100,000 was also raised for charity.

Sponsors and race partners were all out on the water too, including Campbell Fleming, Head of UK for J P Morgan Asset Management. He commented: “JPMorgan Asset Management is excited to be entering its fifth year as title sponsor. We are proud to be involved in an event where competitors of all ages, abilities and experience can race against the best in the world on a level playing field. Over the last two years I have been fortunate enough to sail in the race with triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie and Dame Ellen MacArthur - both races have been a fantastic experience. Each year the race proves more and more exciting and I am sure 2009 will be no exception.”

Bill Pimlott, Commodore of the Island Sailing Club, organisers of the event, said:
“We were delighted with the entry numbers for 2008, the highest in the 78-year history of the event. The feedback from the competitors highlighted the success of our new text messaging system for declarations which we will certainly be continuing in future and our other changes were generally welcomed by the competitors. We look forward to welcoming competitors old and new in 2009.”