Round the Island Race Report 2007

Sponsor's Yacht Takes Line Honours - S & A Whitewood.
Extreme 40 JP Morgan Asset Management took line honours in this year’s JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) Round the Island Race. With an almost record entry of participating yachts-nearly 1800- and one of the earliest starts ever at 5am this year’s race proved to be a bit of a classic.
During a weather briefing by Chris Tibbs at the Island Sailing Club on the evening before the race some good but changeable race conditions were predicted. With winds in a mainly westerly blow a good time for all boats was expected and this was experienced with the bulk of the fleet back in Cowes by 4pm. on Saturday. Mike Slade’s 100foot brand new ICAP Leopard was expected to break the mono-hull record but in fact just missed out by 18 minutes. However as this was Mike’s own record from 2001 no one was that worried and Mike was reported as saying “there is always next year.”
As well as the weather briefing on Friday evening Sir Robin Knox Johnson gave a short talk on his recent round the world trip. He was introduced by Peter Dickson, Commodore of ISC. One of the things Sir Robin always enjoys, even when at sea is a dram of whisky. He was sponsored on his epic voyage for some of the time by Old Pulteney who provided a whisky tasting session for crews after Sir Robin’s talk. Sir Robin stated that the 12 year malt was his favourite but 17years and 21years single malts were also on offer. Old Pulteney is the most northerly whisky distillery in mainland Scotland situated in Wick, Caithness just 14 miles south of John O’Groats and once a thriving herring port. Old Pulteney has been distilling since 1826 and the tasting session proved very popular before the race and at Sunday’s prize giving most crews winning a trophy were also presented with a special bottle of single malt.
Hitting speeds of close to 30 knots the Extreme 40 JPMorgan Asset Management helmed by Ellen MacArthur took line honours in the race after 4 hours and 6 minutes of full-on racing. Fifty seconds later, at 0916 BST, the Extreme 40 ABN AMRO slipped across the line making it a one, two for this exciting 40-ft catamaran class who are competing in the event as one of the iShares Endurance Races in the iShares Cup Extreme 40 series. Nick Moloney's Offshore Challenges Sailing Team, had to officially retire having received outside support during a man-over-board incident, finished seven minutes later crossing the line in fourth as ICAP Leopard, which scuppered the potential Extreme 40 hat-trick by squeezing across the finish line 54 seconds before in third place “What a race and what a result to reach the finish line first, ahead of pre-race favourite ICAP Leopard which at 100-foot and over 30 crew on the rail, dwarfs our four- man 40-foot racing machines!" said the crew on JPMorgan Asset Management.
Top IRC boat on handicap and winner of the Gold Roman Bowl was Edward Donald’s Folkboat Madelaine. The boat and owner have won the Gold Roman Bowl before, in 1999. Edward commented: “We had a taxing day and had to make sure we got out of the tide. Basically we hugged the shore all day long - and saw a lot of the Island”
Olympic Gold Medallist and Cowes resident, Shirley Robertson presented the prizes. She was introduced by Peter Dickson and assisted by Campbell Fleming, Head of UK JPMAM who had sailed the race on JPMAM with Dame Ellen. He said that JPMAM were delighted to sponsor the event which now raised so much money for the four chosen charities including the Ellen MacArthur Trust. To date over £80.000 had been raised and donation lines were still open. Corporate guests of JPMAM had raised over £20,000 of the total as well as having an exciting day’s racing.
Principal trophy winners were: Observer Trophy & JPMAM Salver (1st Mono-hull to finish)-ICAP Leopard- Mike Slade. This boat also took the Conrad Ritblat Trophy & JPMAM Salver (1st IRC to finish).
Gold Roman Bowl & JPMAM Salver ( 1stOverall) Madelaine-Edward Donald who also collected the Champagne Mumm Cup (1st IRC) and the trophy for IRC Division 3D.In a short speech he thanked the ISC for their great organisation and the main sponsors.
Second overall was Tattarat- Philip Williams who was presented with a Silver Roman Bowl & JPMAM Salver and third overall and presented with the Royal Thames Challenge Trophy & JPMAM Salver was Sundowner- Jolyon Hutchinson.
Royal Corinthian YC had the winning team for Groups 0 & 1 and gained the Methuselah -Trophy.