Nicholas 'Nin' O'Leary has had a successful weekend on and off the water in two countries. The Royal Cork ace organised this weekend's successful Dinghy Fest Regatta for over 100–boats in Crosshaven but in Cowes, UK, he also took Adam Gosling's JPK 10.80 YES! to an overall win of the 1342–boat Round the Island Race.

There were still a few hundred boats needing to finish their 2017 Round the Island Race yesterday, but mathematically none of them were able to dislodge Gosling's Irish crewed YES! from the top of the overall results, hence scoring them the biggest trophy of the day, the Gold Roman Bowl.

YES! Winners of the top trophy, the Gold Roman Bowl. Photo: Tony Marsh

Gosling's crew included O'Leary and James Hynes. O'Leary, who was race director of Dinghy Fest at his Royal Cork Yacht Club, skipped to Cowes to participate in the massive UK race early on Saturday. As soon as O'Leary crossed the line, he was already making plans to be back in time to present the Dinghy Fest prizes at RCYC on Sunday.

Adam Gosling & the crew of YES! joined by (left) Sir Keith Mills and Irish crew man James Hynes of Malahide (back row, right). Missing is Nin O'Leary who is already on his way back to Cork to present Dinghy Fest prizes (below). Photo: Paul Wyeth

Round the Island race winner O'Leary (left) on Sunday afternoon with RCYC Admiral John Roche presenting the overall Dinghy Fest award to RS Feva sailors Harry and Simon Pritchard. Photo: Bob Bateman

Often they say that the race is won either by the biggest or the smallest boats and for a time it looked like this would be a big boat race, after an impressive performance from Irvine Laidlaw's Reichel-Pugh 82, Highland Fling XI.

However, with Fling sitting at the top of the results table, Yes! and much of the rest of the IRC1 fleet within which she was racing, stormed home to dislodge a number of previous finishers from the top positions.

Highland Fling did manage to hold onto second, but ultimately Yes! was in another league taking victory by just under eight minutes corrected. Gosling's team a well-known group in the Solent and have won a great many trophies and plaudits but the Round the Island Race win had thus far eluded them.

They join a very special group of 81 winners from the illustrious race.

It was an absolutely flying start from the MOD70 Concise 10. Yesterday evening nobody thought that the course record set by another MOD70, Phaedo3, last year would fall. But their fast time to the Needles and rapid progress down the back of the Island set them up for a solid time. Then favourable winds allowed them to make the finish line on one tack, setting up a last gasp dash to the finish line.

Crossing the line after 2 hours 22 minutes and 23 seconds means they beat Phaedo3's record by exactly one minute! Congratulations to skipper Ned Collier-Wakefield and his team.

It was probably, in truth, not the glorious start that most had hoped for with breeze in the high teens and a little bit of rain combining to give the sailors competing in this 81st edition of the race something of a shock to the system. Still, nothing like a fine bit of British weather to help wake you up at 5am!

But despite this damp start the skies have since become much clearer, the clouds have broken, the rain has gone and the sun is shining. Though the conditions may not have been conducive to lounging in the sun, they certainly gave all of the sailors a fast ride down to the Needles.

We did initially expect to see a large number of boats over the startline with the tide pushing everyone to the west. But, caution seemed to play out for most and, though there were recalls in most classes, the tendency seemed to be just one or two keen starters in each fleet.

Classes Update:
IRC0 - Are currently spread off the SW coast of the Island with the lead boats around St Catherine's Point
IRC1 - The lead boats here are have passed the Needles, many are rounding as this is published with the back markers still on their approach.
IRC2 - The bulk of this fleet are passing through Hurst Narrows and will be heading round the Needles soon.
IRC3 - Are still on the approach to the Needles, with a fair spread. The front of this fleet seems to be doing very well catching up with the slowest of IRC2 who started ahead (and are, of course, faster on paper).
IRC5 - Are also on their approach to the Needles with the bulk of the fleet off Yarmouth.
IRC6 - The head if the fleet are past Newtown and making their way to Yarmouth.
IRC7 - Are mostly bunched together near Newtown.
IRC8 - The final fleet to start are all gathered between Cowes and Newtown (and off Beaulieu).

Sacrificing his own race to go to the aid of another stricken competitor in the 2016 Round the Island Race has resulted in Jeff Warboys, skipper of a Sigma 33 Workout, being awarded the 2016 Round the Island Race Seamanship Award, sponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston.

Another competing boat, Alchemist, a Dubois half tonner, hit a submerged wreck off the Needles and was rapidly taking on water in strong winds. After making a distress call, the crew quickly dropped sails and then started bailing using the bilge pump. However, and despite their strenuous efforts, the water level rose very quickly.

On board Workout Jeff spotted the frantic activity and approached Alchemist to offer assistance. Although this was declined, as a distress call had already been made, Workout dropped its sails and continued to stand by throughout the wait for the rescue team from the RNLI. This took longer than anticipated owing to other distress calls in the area.

Those on board Alchemist expressed their sincere thanks to Jeff Warboys and his crew for offering assistance at the expense of losing out in their own race.

Thankfully, all six members of the Alchemist crew were uninjured and rescued by the Mudeford RNLI inshore lifeboat team just moments before she sank.

Given all these circumstances, Jeff and his crew still turned in a remarkable 1st in the Sigma 33 class and 9th in his group, IRC 3!

In a fast-paced and action-packed day that started at a later than usual 0830 with the firing of the first gun by HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, Sir Keith Mills' FAST 40+ Invictus missed out on winning the coveted Gold Roman Bowl for the first IRC yacht on corrected time, having to settle for second place. His crew included Invictus Games competitor Zoe Williams, as well as Prince Harry, following a long-standing invitation to compete in the Race this year.

The main prize instead went to Bernard Langley's TP52 Gladiator, which powered around the course to become the second monohull to finish, crossing the line less than four and a half hours after the start.

RECORD SMASHERS!
The biggest news, however, was reserved for Lloyd Thornburg's giant MOD70 trimaran Phaedo^3, which tore round the course in two hours 23 minutes and 23 seconds. In doing so he smashed the record time Sir Ben Ainslie set in 2013 by a stunning 28 minutes.

Despite the unusually testing conditions, only a small percentage of the fleet retired from the race, with the overwhelming majority of competitors - some of whom saw gusts to almost 40 knots - successfully completing the course. By 2100 there were only a handful of the back markers left on the final few miles of the race course. The only prize that was still open before the finish deadline of 2230 was the Tenacity Trophy for last boat to cross the line within the time limit!

All that record-breaking excitement on the water ensured that today's Prizegiving at the Island Sailing Club - the last to be held with a J.P. Morgan Asset Management backdrop - attracted a huge audience for the hour-long presentation of Gold and Silverware.

In the welcome and introduction to the Prizegiving by Vice Commodore Peter Bingham and Race PRO Mike Peskett, generous tributes were paid to numerous ISC teams, many comprised of the 100 or so volunteers that work so hard for the sheer love of the Race, every year. Thanks also went to the Race sponsor and partners and finally the competitors who participated in this 12th and final year of what has been a fantastic partnership.

Supported by the ISC's Flag Officers and today's VIP guest, the record-breaking yachtsman Brian Thompson (and co-helm of Phaedo^3!), Sailing Secretary Chris Thomas got the Prizegiving off to a flying start and kept a rattling pace going throughout.

When asked for his take on this 80th Race in its 85th Anniversary year, ISC Sailing Flag and head of the ISC Race Management team, Dave Atkinson, said:

"It's been more of a challenge this year than we have had in recent years. The heavy weather forced us into making some pretty major decisions in cancelling some classes but we feel that with safety always being paramount, we were entirely justified in doing what we did. There are a few sad faces but many more happy ones. We act as we do with the information that we have and at the end of the day I think it has been an incredibly successful weekend."

Major trophy winners included:

OBSERVER TROPHY & JPMAM TROPHY - First Monohull to finish
GBR1R LEOPARD Mike Slade
GOLD ROMAN BOWL & JPMAM SALVER - First Overall IRC
GBR11152 GLADIATOR Bernard Langley
SILVER ROMAN BOWL & JPMAM SALVER - Second Overall IRC
GBR1851X INVICTUS Sir Keith Mills
ROYAL THAMES CHALLENGE TROPHY & JPMAM SALVER - Third O/A IRC
GBR1682R TOKOLOSHE II Michael Bartholomew
ROYAL LONDON CHALLENGE CUP & JPMAM SALVER - Fourth O/A IRC
GBR4863R YES! Adam Gosling
JPMORGAN TROPHY - First Overall IRC Group 0
GBR11152 GLADIATOR Bernard Langley
OWEN PARKER MEMORIAL TROPHY - First Overall IRC Group 1
GBR4863R YES! Adam Gosling
RAYMARINE RIR YOUNG SAILOR TROPHY
GBR3277L WAVE WHISPERER Richard Barnes
TENACITY TROPHY - Last boat to finish within the time limit
SEASCAPE (John Hulford-Funnell)

This year's J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island will go down in history as a windy edition of the event. Having shattered the multihull race record in the MOD70 trimaran Phaedo 3, in a time of 2 hours 23 minutes, 23 seconds, owner Lloyd Thornburg and skipper Brian Thompson have stepped ashore to give their first interviews. The American skipper competed last month in the Round Ireland race and was one of three MODs to break that speed record too. 

"Today was incredible - one of the best sails we've ever had on the boat and the sun really shone on us," says Thornburg. "We're over the moon, the team work on board was fantastic and it was just on the edge where we could keep the full main up, so the boat was totally powered up. Reaching and downwind it was right on the edge."

"It was a beautiful day out there," adds Thompson, "but not the perfect conditions for the fastest trip ever. Had we been able to reach the Needles without tacking we might have finished 10 minutes faster, but that would be a really special day."

The largest monohull in the fleet, Mike Leopard's 100ft Leopard, took monohull line honours, but failed to beat the record time he set in 2013 by 13 minutes. The majority of the fleet is now between the Needles and St Catherine's Point, although an increasing number are approaching Bembridge.

Sir Keith Mills' Ker 40+ Invictus is leading the FAST40+ fleet, and rounded Bembridge Ledge around 1230. Reporting from on board, crew member Alex Mills says: "It was pretty fruity down the back of the Island, but we got away with it unscathed."

Between the forts at the eastern end of the island and the finish, the wind is very gusty and very shifty so the top teams will have to fight hard all the way to the end for a good result.

There will be at least eight Irish registered yachts in a fleet of up to 1,599 when Britain's annual Round the Island Race, a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight in just over two weeks time. The spectacle event, to be held on July 2, is of the largest yacht races in the world and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon and the Great North and South Runs.

From Royal Cork Yacht Club, Wan Waterman will compete in his X37 Saxon Sonata. Another Cork Harbour boat, Ben Daly's Quarter Tonner, Cobh Pirate, currently in Cowes at the Quarter Ton Cup, is also entered. 

Four Irish Cork Harbour 1720 designs are also entered but all are UK based but one; entry 'Pivotal' bears the sail number IRL1725.

Paul Colton's Cri–Cri from the Royal Irish was the Class three progressive ECHO winner at the recent ICRA National Championships in Howth

A return visitor to the Solent is Dublin Bay quarter tonner Cri–Cri, Paul Colton's Royal Irish YC entry, that bears an Italian sail number, is making its fourth appearance in the Round the Island Race.

Among other Irish entries on the massive list are a Hunter Impala, Trudi and an X50, Touché. 

Check out the entries here

Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, has been confirmed as the Race Starter for the 2016 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on Saturday, 2nd July 2016.  Prince Michael will join Race officials on the Royal Yacht Squadron platform to commence the spectacular starting sequence and fire the cannon signifying the first of eleven class starts at 0830.

Prince Michael is not competing in the Race and is visiting the Isle of Wight to carry out a number of official visits.

The spectacular Round the Island Race continues to attract an extraordinarily eclectic mix of entries whether it be the boats or their owners (and sometimes both); enthusiastic mariners from all walks of life, and representing all levels of the sport and all age groups.

The organisers are delighted that the entries have now started to ramp up and are currently at 1,140 - a J/105 Jos of Hamble registered at #1,000.

In amongst those boats jostling for position in the second Class start at 0840 on July 2nd (Multihulls Grand Prix and MOCRA Racing (LOA 9.15m and over) are a number of well-known names not least of which are the MOD 70 multis; the duelling duo Phaedo^3 and Concise 10.

As well as owning the phenomenally successful record-breaking Phaedo^3, Lloyd Thornburg from New Mexico, USA, also jointly skippers the boat with legendary sailor, Brian Thompson, one of the world's best-known sailors, especially in the field of multihull sailing and offshore races and records. Phaedo^3, is also stacked with a core of professional sailing talent including navigator, Miles Seddon and Sam Goodchild.

Lloyd says he's "very excited to be participating in the Round the Island Race for the first time."

Their Race rival is Concise 10, who pipped Phaedo^3 to the post by 12 seconds in the Round Barbados Race in January. Team Directors, Tony Lawson and Ned Collier Wakefield, launched Team Concise in August 2006, with the intention of helping young British sailors forge a future in competitive offshore racing. This team is absolutely meeting its objectives.

On board for this year's Race are: Ned Collier Wakefield, Jonny Malbon, Paul Larson, John Hamilton, Martin Watts, Fraser Brown and Tom Dawson.

"The Round the Island Race is something that we look forward to each year and the iconic event certainly shouldn't disappoint with two MODs racing this year. After taking a fairly easy line honours last year the team and myself are expecting a closely fought race between ourselves and Phaedo. Hopefully the spectacle doesn't disappoint."
Ned Collier Wakefield, Skipper/ Team Director - Team Concise

The Island Sailing Club (ISC) in Cowes, organisers of the prestigious annual Round the Island Race off the Isle of Wight, has appointed Catalyst Consultants to act as its commercial partnerships agency. It's a move that provides an insight into how Irish events and regattas might need to look to attract high level sponsorship into the future.

The Island Sailing Club is inviting tenders for title sponsorship of the Round the Island Race™ from 2017 onwards, as J.P. Morgan Asset Management announced its conclusion of its 12 year sponsorship of the Race in 2016.

Enjoyed by competitors and supporters alike from around the world, there have been many highlights and race-specific developments as a result of J.P. Morgan Asset Management's sponsorship over the years, including:

- Charitable fundraising amounting to over £500,000
- Entries reaching a record of 1,908 in 2011
- Support for new technology initiatives such as Race Tracking and Live TV
- Celebration of the 80th anniversary with an historic art & photographic exhibition
- Documentaries on RTI on BBC Countryfile and Channel 4
- Strengthened race profile in the press

Mark Wynter, Commodore of the Island Sailing Club, that organises the annual 50 mile race around the Isle of Wight, said:

"It's always sad to end a dynamic and long-standing relationship but, equally, as we all know, 'all good things come to an end'. However, it's not really the end. J.P. Morgan Asset Management and its team will leave behind a superb legacy for us to nurture, including some terrific friendships and working relationships that will survive on and off the water and a solid and positive platform for the Race Management and Marketing teams to take forward into a new era."

Charity fundraising plays a huge part in the Round the Island Race. Dame Ellen MacArthur received a cheque from ISC Commodore Mark Wynter for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust for over £189,000 raised through its partnership with the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race back in Dec 2014. This figure has since risen by almost £43,000 during 2015 bringing the total to £226,364.25.

Jasper Berens, Head of UK Funds at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, said:

"After 12 fantastic years, 2016 will see the conclusion of our long-standing title sponsorship as the baton gets passed onto the next title sponsor. I've had the privilege of attending the race right from the outset of our sponsorship, so it's amazing to think how far the race has evolved and moved from strength to strength over that time and how widely regarded it has become.

"The message of thanks stretches far and wide, with so many individuals involved in helping to shape the race as we know it today. We'd also like to thank everyone that has participated in the race over the years too. It was a major collaborative effort and we wish the Island Sailing Club every success for the future."

The 85th edition of this globally recognised Race is being held on 2nd July which will be J.P. Morgan Asset Management's final outing as Title Sponsor. They intend to make it a true celebration of everything that is best and most loved about this extraordinary day on the water; a day that annually attracts over 1,500 yachts and 12,000 competitors.

#rtir – It's not the first time that Italian marine technical ace Giovanni Belgrano (he was the nuts-and-bolts man on the Italian America's Cup challenges) has surprised the fleets of modern boats on his adopted home waters of the Solent with an ace performance with his exquisitely-restored 1939 Laurent Giles 39ft centreboard sloop Whooper.

Nevertheless his overall win in Saturday's Round the Island Race was a sweet victory to be savoured with joy. Even more so, writes W M Nixon, when you realise it was all done with a boat from Skerries, County Dublin....

Yes indeed, folks. Through the 1960s and the early 1970s, Whooper was based in Skerries under the ownership of the great Christy Fox and his son Joe.

And here's the Lloyds entry from the register of 1970 to prove it:

Lloyds Register of 1970, with Whooper at home in Skerries

They'd chosen this unusual boat because her centreboard configuration gave them the shallow draft needed to be able to berth her alongside Skerries pier, rather than having to keep her in that dreadful anchorage out in the open bay. Having been built by Woodnutt's, she was a quality job, full of character, and well able to give a reasonable account of her herself in local races when they were able to get enough of a crew together to make the best of her.

In time she was sold away. But then a couple of years ago the Classic Yacht Regattas in the Solent area started featuring a beautifully-restored Whooper scoring serious wins. It speaks volumes for her owner's joy in sailing that he's at the sharp end of technological development around advanced boats in the day job, yet in his spare time he goes sailing in a very interesting old boat on which he has clearly lavished much loving attention.

Whooper's hull profile showing how the centreplate was incorporated into the hull without undue intrusion on the accommodation. In that same accommodation, many a boisterous party was held alongside Skerries pier, and in other ports too.

Whooper's hull lines. She was conceived as a comfortable shoal draft cruise to provide reasonably good performance, but no-one could have imagined that 77 years after she was designed, she'd be overall winner of the Round the Island Race.

Whooper's rig was an early version of the Laurent Giles "slutter". which could be both fractional and masthead, though during her time in Skerries she was always sailed as a masthead sloop. She also had one of the earliest Laurent Giles' versions of the new-fangled doghouse to give added headroom and better light in the aft part of the saloon.

In all, there were something like 14 boat with Irish links in the 1800-strong fleet which raced round the island, and it seems that the best-placed was Ben Daly's Quarter Tonner Cobh Pirate in 202nd place. That is, of course, if we don't just reclaim Whooper as one of our own.....