ON THE WATER
the absolute limit. We stagger the boats
through 11 starts, 10 minutes apart,
and the Eastern Solent is actually closed
down to other shipping so the race can
get underway. Sometimes there are cruise
liners out there waiting for the Eastern
Solent to re-open.”
The date and timing of the race are
important aspects of its success. If it gets
underway too late in the morning, the
tide can turn; the wind can die and many
competitors can be left ‘high and dry’
almost before they have crossed the start
line.
Lea explained: “The steering group’s job
is to run the race, and report regally to the
general committee of the Island Sailing
Club. Normally after the race has finished
we send out a questionnaire, and from
that we develop the race for the following
year. We have to start the race about two
hours before high water, but we wouldn’t
start any earlier than 5am.
“Month by month before the race we
look at what needs to be done, and what
changes if any need to be made. Apart
from running the race itself, we also
have to look after the sponsorship side of
things, because sponsors are now a very
important part of the event. Cowes Yacht
Haven becomes the race village, with the
entertainment and prize giving taking
place there, and it has become much
more than just a race these days; it is a
big social event on the calendar.”
One of the biggest headaches for the
organisers is that many competitors
attempt the race having never sailed
outside the Solent before, and suddenly
find themselves battling the elements
on the south side of
the Island. There is a
time limit on the race,
but with some boats
taking up to 16 hours
to circumnavigate the
Island it can become
gruelling and extremely
tiring, especially for the
novices. All competitors
are issued with a
safety booklet to try to
ensure a safe passage,
especially as the wreck
of the 3,8775-ton Greek
steamer Varvassi, which
sank in 1947 just off The
Needles, has been hit
by boats on numerous
Lea Bennett
occasions.
John said: “The ideal conditions are a
north-westerly wind of four to five or
even six knots; that is when records are
broken. Two records, the monohull and
multihull, were both broken last year
when conditions were near perfect.”
The multihull record went to
multi-Olympic sailing gold medallist
Ben Ainslee, a good friend of John, who
went round in his boat ‘Rita’ - which in
fact is the name he calls all his boats!
Afterwards Ben described it as: “The
perfect race.” He will be competing
again this year, and no doubt looking for
another perfect voyage.
Commodore John was born and bred
on the Island, and has been a member of
the Island Sailing Club nearly 40 years.
He served his first term as Commodore
from 1998 to 2001, and agreed to return
on a 12-month interim basis until this
November. He has been involved in
the Round the Island race for many
years, both competing and organising.
His talents do not end there, with two
Sydney to Hobart races under his belt as
well at the Fastnet Race in 1979, before
he finished ocean racing in 1986.
He said: “My grandfather was a sailor
and my father was in the Merchant Navy.