Windermere for the last two years, is
using the event to make the transition
into the big boat racing scene, and also,
as Waring explained: “a key focus will
be fundraising for our Sailability leet,
which is stepping into the disabled
racing circuit and would like a new
sail at a cost of approximately £1200.”
As irst timers to the Round the
Island Race, Waring believes it is
important to include the whole team:
“he planning and preparation are part
of the fun element of the event and at
all stages holistic team involvement
is essential. Delegate to strengths
and relect on all outcomes with an
open and ‘glass half full’ dialogue.
“As far as last minute prep goes, our
intention is to take the boat down the
weekend before with two of the four-
man crew, spending the Tuesday and
Wednesday making the boat ready and
exploring start and inish points. hewhole crew then intends to meet on
the hursday at Hamble Point Marina
and plan a training day on the Friday.”
Commenting on goals and what
they hope to achieve from the race,
Waring concludes: “We want to do
as well as we can but are realistic
about the inal result. I would hope
we ind our race and battle to the end
and, ideally, complete the course.”YOUNG TALENT
As an event that ofers bundles of fun
and top competition, it is not surprising
young sailors are keen to take part. One
of the youngest teams this year is Team
Impact Racing, a group of under-25 year
olds from Parkstone YC, Poole. George
Kennedy and his team aged 17, 18, 20
and 21, racing a J/24, are hoping to equal
if not better their performance from
last year where they inished second
in Class 6c, and won the J/24 leet.Above
TV celebrity Ben
Fogle will once
again race with
title sponsor,
Cloudy BayOliver Hill and team – all 17 year
olds from Lymington – will also
be competing and hoping to use
the event as a shakedown for the
season ahead aboard their SB20.
In support of the Ellen MacArthur
Cancer Trust (EMCT), the event’s oicial
charity which this year celebrates 15
years, a total of ive EMCT boats will
take part. Crews on the ive EMCT
boats (numbered 1-5) including
a Beneteau Oceanis 45 and a Elan
Impression 434, are made up by young
people aged between 8-24 who are
recovering from cancer treatment.
Ellen MacArthur, a regular
competitor at this event, will join one
of the ive teams, all racing together
in ISC Rating System class.RISK MANAGEMENT ADVICE
MS Amlin, including in their previous
guise, Haven Knox-Johnston, has been
intrinsically involved with the Round
the Island Race for the last 20 years,
not solely as a Race Partner, but also as
competitors in this landmark event.
With three MS Amlin teams racing
this year, including John Macaulay- yacht product group lead – racing
his own Hanse 312 MS Amlin Scotch
Mist for the irst time in ISC. Macaulay
will have the insurer’s, yacht claims
manager Damian Vaile on board.
Ian Braham, who took a second in
division in 2017 aboard his MG346
MS Amlin Enigma is also revved up
and looking to step up one place.
he third MS Amlin team member
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR RACE
Ned Collier Wakefield, multihull record-breaking
helmsman, shares his advice for an enjoyable
and successful Round the Island Race:
Make sure you do your tidal and weather
homework, concentrate on local efects
Ensure the boat is fully prepared the day before,
keeping the race morning as stress free as possible
Minimise weight; it’s only a short race so bring the essentials
Make sure you get out to the start area early
Brief the whole crew properly. Ideally talk through the
rhythm of the lap; we always do this on the motor out to the
start area to make sure all manoeuvres are fresh in mind
Pick where you want to start on the line in advance; this should
be influenced by wind direction/strength and tidal stream
During the race keep assessing pressure vs tidal relief: there
are huge gains to be made from seeking tidal relief but make
sure you trade this of against sailing into less pressure
Keep the crew hydrated and energised: the
number of manoeuvres normally increases
as you come back into the Solent
PAUL WYETH/ROUND THE ISLAND RACE36 Yachts & Yachting July 2018 yachtsandyachting.co.uk