Round the Island Race
Encyclopedia
The Round the Island Race is a yacht
race
around the Isle of Wight
, organized by the Island Sailing Club based in Cowes
. It is the fourth largest sporting event in the United Kingdom
and is one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar attracting competitors from Europe
and the United States
. The race course is 50 miles long, starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron
in Cowes, racing westbound to The Needles
, round St Catherine's Point
and Bembridge Ledge back to the Solent
. In 2007 JP Morgan Asset Management began sponsorship of the event in a deal lasting until 2010.
The top trophy has remained the same since the start, as the Gold Roman Bowl. The original had been seen on display in a goldsmiths near the site of a Roman
wharf in London
, having been dredged up from the River Thames
. A replica was made at a jewelers in Cowes for the event. A second prize of a Silver Roman Bowl was later introduced after an act of gentlemanly behaviour, when Chris Ratsey admitted that his ship "Evenlode" might have fouled another competitor's yacht, and so declined the Gold Roman Bowl.
After 1939 the race was discontinued for the duration of the war following a ban on private leisure sailing and resumed in 1946. From then on the number of competitors steadily increased from 105 in 1950 to 1,309 in the mid 1980s. 1989 saw a turnout of 1,813, which was later exceeded in 2008 with 1,875 entries.
The course runs all the way around the Isle of Wight, with a total distance of about 50 miles.
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
race
Racing
A sport race is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time...
around the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, organized by the Island Sailing Club based in Cowes
Cowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
. It is the fourth largest sporting event in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and is one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar attracting competitors from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The race course is 50 miles long, starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the most prestigious yacht club in the United Kingdom and arguably the world. Its clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom...
in Cowes, racing westbound to The Needles
The Needles
The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, England, close to Alum Bay. The Needles lighthouse stands at the end of the formation...
, round St Catherine's Point
St Catherine's Point
St. Catherine's Point is the southernmost point on the Isle of Wight. It is located close to the village of Niton and the point where the Back of the Wight changes to the Undercliff of Ventnor....
and Bembridge Ledge back to the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
. In 2007 JP Morgan Asset Management began sponsorship of the event in a deal lasting until 2010.
History
The original idea for the Island Sailing Club's Round the Island Race came from member Major Cyril Windeler in 1930 when he suggested a handicap race around the island to cater for smaller boats of around 5-25 tons, in contrast to those recommended by the Royal Yacht Squadron at a minimum of 30 tons. The first race took place in 1931 with 25 entries. The winning boat was one of the smaller ones at 22 feet and costing £45.The top trophy has remained the same since the start, as the Gold Roman Bowl. The original had been seen on display in a goldsmiths near the site of a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
wharf in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, having been dredged up from the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. A replica was made at a jewelers in Cowes for the event. A second prize of a Silver Roman Bowl was later introduced after an act of gentlemanly behaviour, when Chris Ratsey admitted that his ship "Evenlode" might have fouled another competitor's yacht, and so declined the Gold Roman Bowl.
After 1939 the race was discontinued for the duration of the war following a ban on private leisure sailing and resumed in 1946. From then on the number of competitors steadily increased from 105 in 1950 to 1,309 in the mid 1980s. 1989 saw a turnout of 1,813, which was later exceeded in 2008 with 1,875 entries.
Course
| Way Point | Location | Distance (miles) | Cumulative distance (miles) | Latitude North | Longitude West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 0 | 0 | 50° 46.6' | 01° 18.3' |
| 2 | Hurst Castle | 10 | 10 | 50° 42.3' | 01° 32.6' |
| 3 | The Needles | 3.3 | 13.3 | 50° 39.7' | 01° 35.8' |
| 4 | St Catherine's Point | 12.8 | 26.1 | 50° 34.0' | 01° 17.9' |
| 5 | Dunnose | 5.3 | 31.4 | 50° 35.7' | 01° 10.0' |
| 6 | Bembridge Ledge Buoy | 7.1 | 38.5 | 50° 41.1' | 01° 02.9' |
| 7 | Solent Forts | 3.9 | 42.4 | 50° 44.6' | 01° 05.3' |
| 8 | Finish | 7.7 | 50.1 | 50° 46.2' | 01° 17.2' |