The original idea for the Island Sailing Club's Round the Island Race came from member Major Cyril Windeler. In 1930 he suggested a handicap race around the Isle of Wight which could cater for smaller boats – those in the category 5 to 25 tons. He may, at that time, have been enjoying a quiet joke at the expense of the Royal Yacht Squadron, who had stated that their members must own a yacht of minimum 30 tons!

Now the country’s largest and most famous yachting race, the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, took place at Cowes on the Isle of Wight on the 18th June 2005. Nearly 1,700 boats took part in the race and, despite light airs for most of the day, over 1,300 completed the 50-mile course around the Isle of Wight before the 2200 time limit.

In recent years the Round the Island Race has become a popular challenge for sailors at all levels of experience and abilities, attracting classic yachts such as the elegant J Class "Velsheda" as well as state-of-art, record-breaking greyhounds. Olympic gold medallist have tried their luck in the Sportsboat Rule class whilst grand old ladies of the sea, "Suhaili" and "Lively Lady", have given more modern designs a run for their money.

Open to all, the Round the Island Race now offers a fantastic hospitality opportunity. To actually compete in the largest yacht race in the World.

Race packages
EMG offer a complete race charter package, you bring your clients and let us handle everything else. To spice the day up a bit why not let us arrange for an Olympic Gold Medallist or Americas Cup sailor to join you for the day.

Everyone enjoys the superb day's racing, as one of the competitors this year commented: "It's the Grand National of sailing. The greatest spectacle ever."