02 July 2016

Round they go! Round the Island Race 2016

2nd July 16


A rather rare but welcomed late start by Race standards for our young people today with bright blue skys and a fine wind in the 2016 J.P. Morgan Round the Island Race.

24 young people, 50+ volunteers and guests, 169 cyclists and 48 runners and five skippers  joined the race on the water and on the land today for the 2016 J.P. Morgan Round the Island Race (2nd July 2016).

Joined by Trust founding patron Dame Ellen MacArthur and Trust Ambassador and Bestival curator Rob da Bank, the Trust's race squad enjoyed early morning bacon sarnies and welcome mugs of tea as Cowes bustled into pre-race life.

The Trust's boats - EMCT 1 (Moonspray), EMCT 2 (Morning Dew), EMCT 4 (Wight Orca) and EMCT 5 (Omerta) made it safely off the start line at 0910 am, followed by EMCT 3 (Carte Blanche) on the 0950am wave of starters.

(Young person, Sam, at the helm of Wight Orca)

All our boats rounded the Needles at just gone midday with friendly rivalries breaking out. White Orca just beat Moonspray around the famous RTIR viewpoint and Carte Blanche even recorded 10 knots on the beat thanks to the great conditions.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management Bournemouth cyclists set off on their own annual Round the Island Challenge and like Phaedo, the winning boat, broke records! The fastest cyclist negotiated the route in a super quick time of 3 hours and 15 minutes.  The runners too, completing a 5k or half marathon challenge also did not hang around with happy faces seen all around on the finish line in Cowes Yacht Haven.

Fastest half marathon runner and fastest cyclist shake hands at the finish

(J.P. Morgan Asset Management Half Marathon runners at the finish)

Meanwhile the Trust's team of 10 volunteers at Cowes Yacht Haven were making the most of the sunshine and people's great moods to raise awareness of, and encourage them to support, the Trust.  Our two stand competitions were also attracting visitors. The Harken Grinder, where competitors try to post the fastest time for winching, and the ‘Get Your Kit On’ competition where those taking part race to put on full sailing wet weather gear; Offering a chance to win great Henri Lloyd prizes. 
Plaza Ices were also busy doing ice cream lucky dips to raise money for the Trust from their mobile ice cream trolley.

Four hours after setting off, nicely powered by a West to South Westerly breeze, Moonspray led a tightly packed Trust group, closely followed by Morning Dew, Carte Blanche, Wight Orca and Omera. The playful inter- Trust rivalry is currently too close to call!

(Rob da Bank and crew on-board Wight Orca)

Who will win the mini battles? We will find out in about 4 hours......

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