The sun has finally made an appearance and the days are getting longer! We can feel the anticipation of the sailing season at an all-time high and many plans are afoot for on-the-water racing thrills. Make sure that the 1st July is firmly in your calendar for the iconic Round the Island Race. It's Britain's Favourite race for hundreds of reasons, and if you need a reminder watch the 2022 highlights!
We're delighted with the range of boats that have entered the race so far - including our 2022 Line Honours and Gold Roman Bowl winner GP42 Dark'n'Stormy and 366 cruising boats that are taking advantage of the free rating system which the Island Sailing Club offers (ISCRS). Check out your competition here.
Enter today! It's simple to enter, and if you've entered before, you can use our pre-filled entry form containing all your details to save you time. Contact the Race Team on rir@islandsc.org.uk if you haven't received your pre-filled form by email yet.
James Harayda has entered his Open 60 Gentoo and he will be racing with some of his team and guests who support the Gentoo Sailing Team programme. We asked him what his Race Goal is for this year's race:
"Our aim is to have a good time and enjoy the racing, excitement, and beautiful views witnessed along the course. I am, however, a very competitive person, so inside me the line honours fire will be burning bright. This is always an objective racing Gentoo amongst rated fleets. On a course like this, it's tricky to pull this off, not just because the competition is so high, but the nature of sailing an IMOCA on a tidal inshore course like this means we cannot benefit from the tidal relief, small wind shifts, and shorter routes that many of the smaller boats can. Excuses aside, if we sail a clean race and can get our bow ahead of the traffic at the start, I think we are in a good place to achieve this result!"
Charlie McKenzie from San Francisco, watched the start of the windy 2016 race and decided then that he wanted to compete in the race. Recently, he bought a Nordship 40 DS in Ireland, renamed it Doña Marinita, and is planning to sail it over to Cowes to compete in his first Round the Island Race.
Charlie said: "I am looking forward to sailing with friends that I have met in different parts of the world and racing in the Solent which has such a great maritime tradition. My Race Goal for the race is to beat some of the professional crews. Given that the boat has tired sails, the crew has never sailed together, and the boat design is of a cruising nature we have an alternate goal of sailing hard, enjoying the spectacle, telling stories and jokes, and eating well. There's a promise to cook Mexican Street tacos with an English flair as one of the meals!"
Need some more crew? Like to find a boat to crew on? Try out our Crew Search forum here.
Helly Hansen, our Official Clothing Partner, are again launching a great capsule collection as well as kitting out more than 150 volunteers and organisers for the event. The collection incorporates some of the brand's favourite technical pieces for the marine and water sports industry, including a HP 1⁄2 Zip Pullover, Crew Vest and Club Hoodie for both men and women. All garments feature the race logo and will be available to order by the end of May (from the event website and Cowes Store).
This year's hero product is the HH half-zip pullover which is built for high-speed sailing adventures. Comfortable, easy to pull on and off and versatile, it can be used as a standalone or second layer. The pullover is made with recycled double-knit polyester, which has been upgraded with chemical-free sun protection using the planet-friendly S.Café® process. S.Café® fabric technology infuses the fabric with used coffee grounds creating everlasting sun protection, as well as making the pullover quick-dry and odour-resistant.
Our Race Partner, Sailing Today with Classic Yachts & Yachting and Classic Boat magazine, are offering all competitors and friends of the race a fantastic subscription offer - subscribe today and receive 6 issues for just £14.99 - saving up to 49%. Plus, receive a FREE copy of the Yachting Year 2023 Annual worth £7.99. More details here.
We are delighted that the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is once again our Official Race Charity. The Trust takes young people sailing to inspire them to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer. And this year the charity celebrates its 20th anniversary having been launched by the history-making yachtswoman in July 2003.
On that first trip, five young people from Great Ormond Street Hospital sailed with the charity for the first time in Cowes. Since then, almost 2,900 young people from across the UK have benefitted from the Trust's transformational sailing and outdoor adventures.
Frank Fletcher, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust CEO, said: "Hundreds of young people living through and beyond cancer have been given the chance to believe in a brighter future thanks to the long-term partnership with Round the Island Race since 2005 and the wonderful crews that support us. We are incredibly grateful for your continued support this year."
For more information visit ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org or follow @EMCTrust on social media.
We are proud to organise this iconic race and would like to offer all the competitors an exclusive membership offer. Please use the link here to find out all the benefits of the Club and details of the offer. Emma Pain, our Membership Officer, would be delighted to answer any questions, please call her on +44 (0)1983 296621 or email rir@islandsc.org.uk.
Tue 9 Jul 2024
New date announced for the 2025 Round the Island Race
Fri 28 Jun 2024
Round the Island Race 2025 and the Isle of Wight Festival
Sun 16 Jun 2024
A wet and wild edition of Round the Island Race
Sat 15 Jun 2024
Notorious wins the Gold Roman Bowl
Fri 14 Jun 2024
Announcement: Class cancellations
Thu 13 Jun 2024
Important Safety Update for competitors
Mon 10 Jun 2024
Ten things to do before Saturday's race
Thu 6 Jun 2024
Round the Island Race weekend - a week to go!
Wed 5 Jun 2024
Get Race ready! Sailing Instructions are now available
Sat 1 Jun 2024
NEW for 2024: Official Shoreside Venue
Tue 28 May 2024
Standard Entries Close on Sat 1st June
Fri 17 May 2024
Countdown to the Race For All - Round the Island 2024
Mon 13 May 2024
NEW Official Shoreside Venue in Cowes for 2024
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 26 Jan 2024
Entries for the 2024 Round the Island Race are open
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!
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