News - 02/07/15

The 2015 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race was described as “a truly sparkling day for family and professional sailors alike” with almost unbroken sun and a west southwesterly breeze of 12-15 knots, gusting to 20 knots. 

CHC’s distinctive harbour patrol RIB HM1, along with our 11m steel workboat Seamark were tasked to escort the Red Funnel vehicle ferries and passenger Red Jets and assist their safe passage into and out of the harbour during the Race start sequence. 

At the end of the day, the Island Sailing Club reported that every one of the 1,389 boats that finished were across the line before the scheduled 2200 cut off in order to qualify for a result. From the initial 1,584 entries, there were 104 retirements and 11 OCS/DSQ.

Congratulations go to local Isle of Wight boat and Shepards Wharf Marina berth holder Whooper, Giovanni Belgrano’s 38ft classic yacht, which won the Gold Roman Bowl for 1st Overall IRC along with other trophies.

Race highlights of the day included the MOD70 trimaran Concise 10 which took line honours, finishing at 1040, with an elapsed time of three hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds. This put her 38 minutes outside the multihull race record set by Sir Ben Ainslie in 2013.

The four GC32 foiling catamarans crossed the line just after 1100, led by Sultanate of Oman and Alinghi, after a close race that saw the boats separated by less than six minutes at the finish.

Mike Slade’s 100ft Leopard finished at 1140 to take monohull line honours, but was outside the record time he set two years ago.

Shoreside, there was great excitement at Shepards Wharf Marina as the newly refurbished Sugar Store Events Centre opened its doors for the first time offering live music, a bar and barbecue on the pier.

Race competitors were able to relax and socialise with friends and family in the Sugar Store Events Centre or out on the decking area overlooking the harbour and the race finish line, listening to music, enjoying a drink and soaking up the special RTI atmosphere! You can view CHC’s photos from RTI Race day on Flickr.

View the full list of 2015 RTI trophies, winners and results.

Next year’s J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race will take place on 2nd July, 2016.

Race photos by Olek Creations / facebook.com/OlekCreations