The Island Sailing Club (ISC) has announced that entries are now open for the 2024 edition of Britain’s Favourite Yacht Race, the Round the Island Race, which is being held on Saturday 15th June 2024.
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, an island situated off the south coast of England. Starting on the 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.
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 is to be an exhilarating start to the 2024 Summer Sailing Season. We carefully choose the start time and date to provide the optimal tidal conditions for the race, and with such a wonderfully varied fleet we want to ensure that all competitors can reach and round The Needles.
“The race experience is so different each year and I think this is why our competitors are addicted to returning year after year. Also, I’d say the camaraderie out on the water is unrivalled; it’s such a pleasure to see so many sailors having such a great time.”
This year, the RNLI has been named as the Official Race Charity. All donations raised will go to the seven stations involved in the race and specifically for the training of their volunteer crews.
Claire Johnson, Fundraising & Partnerships Lead South East for the RNLI said: "We have always been immensely supportive and proud of our involvement with the Island Sailing Club and Round the Island Race, and to be named the Official Charity Partner in the same year that we mark two centuries of saving lives at sea is a real honour. We are delighted that we can continued to support the safety and enjoyment of such a wonderful event and receive funds from kind donors, allowing us to continue to provide world-class training for our volunteer crews across the seven stations involved on the day of the race and, ultimately, to save more lives throughout the year."
Official Race Partner, B&G, will be providing a Race Support Programme which will include B&G’s team of experts hosting exclusive webinar events for competitors to help them get the most out of their electronics as they prepare for race day. Experts will also be on-site in the run-up to the start to assist with any last-minute queries.
Gemma Davies, Director of Marketing for B&G said: “B&G is proud to be the Official Race Marine Electronics Partner for the Round the Island Race. B&G has been at the cutting edge of sailing innovation since 1955, and our racing heritage gives us an unrivalled platform for developing new technology, which is put through its paces by the world’s best sailors in the most challenging conditions.”
The Island Sailing Club, based on the Isle of Wight, is proud to have organised this globally renowned race for over 90 years. The ISC would like to invite race competitors to become members and is offering an exclusive membership package. Please contact the ISC office to find out more.
Opportunities to become an Official Race Partner for the 2024 race and beyond are available. Please contact sponsorship@islandsc.org.uk.
For more race information and to take advantage of great Early Bird Entry Deals visit the event website www.roundtheisland.org.uk. For all the latest news on social media - @roundtheisland and #RoundTheIsland #RaceForAll.
Fri 3 May 2024
NEW for 2024: LIVE Stage Leaderboard!
Fri 3 May 2024
Thu 18 Apr 2024
Competitors' Competition Time!
Wed 27 Mar 2024
Polly's Round the Island Race Adventures
Wed 27 Mar 2024
Last chance to catch an Early Bird entry!
Fri 22 Mar 2024
Early Bird entry deals end soon!
Thu 7 Mar 2024
Race News & Shirley Robertson Story
Fri 23 Feb 2024
It's all systems go for the 2024 race!
Tue 30 Jan 2024
Race features in C5 'Jewel of the South' programme
Fri 12 Jan 2024
RNLI named as the Official Race Charity for 2024
Mon 3 Jul 2023
An epic edition of the ultimate 'Race for All' - Round the Island Race
Sat 1 Jul 2023
Line Honours and Gold Roman Bowl for TSCHUSS 2
Wed 21 Jun 2023
Official Race Village in Cowes Yacht Haven
Wed 14 Jun 2023
Competition hots up for the 2023 Round the Island Race
Fri 9 Jun 2023
Standard entries close on Saturday 17th June!
Thu 18 May 2023
The stunning classic yacht Kelpie will compete in the RIR
Fri 28 Apr 2023
Round the Island Race- a fantastic British spectacle!
Sat 8 Apr 2023
If there's one race you do, make it Round the Island!
Fri 3 Feb 2023
Entries for the 2023 Round the Island Race are open
Fri 13 Jan 2023
Sun 26 Jun 2022
Line honours and the Gold Roman Bowl for Dark'n'Stormy
Sat 25 Jun 2022
Line Honours for multihull N.R.B
Tue 21 Jun 2022
Ten things to do before Saturday's race
Tue 14 Jun 2022
Dame Ellen MacArthur to race in the Round the Island Race
Sat 11 Jun 2022
Tue 24 May 2022
May Newsletter: Over £4,000 of prizes to be won!
Mon 9 May 2022
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust preparing to race the Round the Island Race
Thu 21 Apr 2022
Round the Island Race Village will be open to all
Wed 13 Apr 2022
Fri 28 Jan 2022
Marathon Watch and B&G partner the Round the Island Race
Sat 3 Jul 2021
Sat 3 Jul 2021
90th Anniversary Round the Island - Race Update
Thu 1 Jul 2021
Countdown to the Round the Island Race
Wed 23 Jun 2021
Windeler Cup moves to 7th August 2021
Fri 14 May 2021
Round the Island Race's 90th anniversary call-out to raise '90 in 90’
Fri 16 Apr 2021
Entries open for the Windeler Cup
Fri 19 Mar 2021
Celebrating 90 years of Britain's favourite yacht race
Mon 10 Aug 2020
Cancellation of the 2020 Round the Island Race
Thu 2 Apr 2020
Round the Island Rowing Race launches
Fri 20 Mar 2020
Round the Island Race rescheduled to 26 September
Tue 10 Mar 2020
Round the Island Race in 80 days
Tue 3 Mar 2020
Entries open for the Windeler Cup
Thu 30 Jan 2020
Last chance for early bird entry to Round the Island Race 2020
Fri 3 Jan 2020
Entries for the 2020 Round the Island Race open
Mon 30 Dec 2019
Be the first to enter the 2020 Round the Island Race and win a bottle of Mermaid Gin
Sat 14 Dec 2019
Round the Island Race 2020 date announced
Sun 30 Jun 2019
Round the Island Race 2019 competitors celebrate at the end of race prize-giving ceremony
Sun 30 Jun 2019
Eeyore wins 2019 Round the Island Race Gold Roman Bowl
Sat 29 Jun 2019
Line Honours for Actual Leader
Sat 29 Jun 2019
Actual Leader living up to name
Sat 29 Jun 2019
And They’re Off! Spectacular 88th Round the Island Race start
Mon 10 Jun 2019
New Official Race Village announced for this year's Round the Island
Tue 21 May 2019
How to find a berth for the Round the Island Race
Tue 2 Apr 2019
80 days to enter the world famous Round the Island Race
Sat 26 Jan 2019
Sat 7 Jul 2018
High Potential wins 2018 Round the Island Race Gold Roman Bowl
Sat 7 Jul 2018
Sat 7 Jul 2018
Sat 7 Jul 2018
Fri 6 Jul 2018
Mon 18 Jun 2018
Raymarine to play a bigger role in the 2018 Round the Island Race in association with Cloudy Bay
Sun 13 May 2018
Win! Free berthing, free entry and £1200 of goodies for Round the Island Race
Thu 29 Mar 2018
There are just 100 days to go until the 2018 Round the Island Race...
Thu 28 Dec 2017