Entries are now open for the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, which takes place on 30 June. The first entry was received by the ISC at 12.04am after entries opened at midnight on 20 January.

The entry came from Inseyandra, a Bavaria 46, owned and skippered by Martin Thomas, who just pipped Ben Ainslie CBE to the post as the triple Olympic gold medallist filed his race entry just two minutes later.

Ben Ainslie will skipper J.P. Morgan Asset Management Winston (GBR 2806L), a very competitive Beneteau First 40, and this will be the only time he will compete outside of the Finn class before the Olympic Games. Ben has the personal support of the race’s title sponsor, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, which is sponsoring the event for the eighth year.

The first race start is scheduled for 0700 on 30 June. Early bird entries close at midnight on 25 February.

The RYA Boat Safety Handbook is the latest title from the RYA, covering all the key elements in boat safety from lifejackets and buoyancy aids, MOB prevention and recovery to calling for help and dealing with fire.

An official book launch was held during the London Boat Show, with the book’s author Keith Colwell.

Anyone who purchases a copy between now and the end of March, will be entered into a free prize draw.

The golden boy of British sailing has set his sights on America’s Cup glory, with the announcement of his intention to skipper a new team for the AC World Series, along with plans to join ORACLE Racing for the defence of the 34th America’s Cup.

The team, known as Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR), will compete in the 2012/13 America’s Cup World Series, with that campaign beginning as soon as Ainslie finishes his 2012 Olympic event in the Finn class.

The new global America’s Cup World Series circuit attracts some of the best fleet and match race sailors in the world to compete in high speed 45 foot wing-sailed catamarans, fore-runners to the next generation of America’s Cup boats. The series will provide a perfect testing ground for Ainslie, who has also confirmed his plan to challenge for the 35th America’s Cup, following the conclusion of the 34th Cup in San Francisco in 2013.