Saturday 28th of June, 6.26 am - Star Chaser goes over the line to start the 78th Round the Island Race. The annual JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, is one of the most popular fixtures on the Solent racing calendar. Competitors come from Europe and the USA, as well as all over the UK, to follow the 50 mile course round the Isle of Wight. Nearly 1,800 boats competed over the 50-mile course around the Isle of Wight in a race that saw some of the biggest names in the sailing world competing with weekend sailors and family crews.

Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the fleet races westabout, to The Needles, round St Catherine’s Point and Bembridge Ledge buoy back into the Solent.

Star Chaser welcomed Fairfax Properties and their guests on board for this great event. The Friday was spent sailing around the Solent, getting to know the boat and practising race manoeuvres, such as tacking, gibing and for several people to get used to helming. The day was discussed over some great food in one of Hamble’s new restaurants and then an early night as the next day was an early one!

Saturday saw some very good racing with great winds for Star Chaser - tactically we did very well and with a bit of luck on our side we managed to pass a good number of boats.

We had an exhilarating down wind ride on the south side of the island and finished in good time. All the crew were very happy with the result and their great day on the water and can’t wait to get back out there!

Race Statistics

Total entered 1875
Started the race 1750
Total finishers 1557
Retirements 193