The Round the Island Race is an annual 50 nautical mile yacht race around the Isle of Wight, attracting thousands of sailors to the Solent for a spectacular day of racing.
Every summer, the waters of the Solent transform from a popular cruising ground into one of the most exhilarating maritime spectacles in the world. For a single day, thousands of boats converge and the focus turns to pure seamanship as the Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, loops dramatically around the Isle of Wight.
It is billed as one of the largest yacht races in the world, but numbers alone fail to capture what makes it remarkable. This is not just a race for professionals or elite crews. It is a mass participation celebration of seamanship and, above all, the shared culture of being afloat.
Dave Atkinson, Round the Island Race Director, explains: “Whether you are a sailing pro or simply enjoy being on the water with family and friends, the race is open to all, so please join us for one of the Isle of Wight’s greatest spectacles.”
However, you do not need to be racing to feel the thrill. In fact, for many, the best seat in the house is not on the start line but at one of the many vantage points, such as Ryde Pier and Hurst Point, watching one of sailing’s greatest mass participation events unfold.
The Island Sailing Club has partnered with four locations to become official spectator venues. The Albion Hotel in Freshwater, The Terrace in Ventnor, Bembridge Coast Hotel and The Dell in Ryde will all run special offers on race day, giving guests the chance to watch in style from some of the best vantage points.
Of the venues Dave Atkinson says: “We have always believed the Round the Island Race is very much an occasion for the entire island, and we want as many people as possible to be part of it. We are delighted these four venues will join us to offer spectators an opportunity to enjoy the race at some of the best locations.”
A bigger Race Village on Cowes Parade will also be open during the race weekend, with The Union Pub and The Globe Pub given even more options for crew and spectators to enjoy island hospitality. The main stage has a full programme of free entertainment and live music from 2pm on Friday through to 10pm on Sunday, and race updates will be shown on the big screen.
This year’s race charity, Wetwheels Foundation, will be at the Race Village too, sharing information about the trips they run for people with disabilities.
A START LIKE NO OTHER
The race begins at 7am from the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes. Successive start sequences release fleets that range from high-tech racing machines to family cruisers. Depending on your position, it can look like organised chaos or a ballet of canvas.
Over a thousand boats funnel past in tightly timed starts. This is a masterclass in boat handling on display. If you are watching, bring binoculars. You will want them.
Many cruising sailors have rounded the island at some point. Perhaps in stages over a long weekend. This race does it in one go: 50 nautical miles, anti-clockwise, past landmarks you may have previously drifted past casually — but here, they are attacked with intent.
The fleet streams past The Needles, with dramatic spray flying; perhaps the race’s most photogenic point. Rounding The Needles is only the start though. Later, boats sweep through St Catherine’s Point, the southernmost tip of the Isle of Wight and a place sailors treat with utmost respect. In the race, timing here can make or break a result.
Yet the race is as much about people as performance. Crews are a blend of hardened racers, weekend sailors, corporate teams and families who have turned the event into an annual tradition.
On some boats, the foredeck is manned by teenagers learning their craft. On others, veteran sailors move with economical precision born of decades afloat. The shared experience erases hierarchy.
Dave Atkinson says: “Our aim is always to deliver a race that is memorable, inclusive and brilliant fun — whether it is your first time round the Island or your fifteenth, there is nothing quite like being part of this fleet.”
From St Catherine’s Point, teams race on past Shanklin, Bembridge, making their way past Ryde with the end in sight.
If you are lucky enough to view the racing from a spectator boat, you get to enjoy the drama without the worry of jostling for places. Many cruising sailors who first experience the race as spectators end up entering in later years!
Onboard or on land, though, spectators swap sightings of famous yachts, discuss sightings or simply share the joy of being a part of something special. There is a sense that, for this one day, the Solent truly belongs to sailors.
THE FINISH LINE
Throughout the day, including into the evening, tired crews arrive back in Cowes (fastest time is 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 23 seconds, set in 2017 by MOD70 catamaran Concise 10). You can almost read the stories on their decks – the quiet satisfaction of having completed something iconic and a bucket list event for many.
Back ashore, the stories begin immediately. Tales of near misses at the start, close-quarters racing, tricky conditions, dismastings, triumphs and more circulate through pubs and yacht club bars long into the evening.
Not forgetting, on the Sunday nearly 200 prizes are awarded, with boats of every shape and size competing to win individual class and overall trophies. The Gold Roman Bowl has been awarded to the overall winner of the Round the Island Race since it started in 1931.
The Solent soon returns to its habitual rhythm of ferries, cruising yachts and fishing boats. But for those who took part, or watched, the memory lingers: a day when the sea became a stage and thousands of sailors played their part in one of the great rituals of the British boating calendar. For leisure boaters, the Round the Island Race is a reminder of why we love being afloat. ■
RACE COLLECTION
Race organisers, the Island Sailing Club, has again teamed up with Helly Hansen to offer a range of performance kit, designed specifically for the demands of the event. Fleece jackets, hoodies, caps and long-sleeved, regular and hooded t-shirts are all available, featuring a choice of colours and sizes for men and women. The range is available to buy online, in the Helly Hansen Cowes shop and at the Island Sailing Club.
View the collection at roundtheisland.org.uk/shop
INFORMATION
Race day: 11 July
Entries open until: 8 July
Fairview Sailing has partnered with the race; for those looking to take part but without access to a boat, Fairview Sailing has limited charter availability remaining – get in touch to secure your place.
Official race partner, Red Funnel is offering discount prices on RedJet crossings for the race weekend.
