The annual Round the Island Race, which started back in 1930, is organised by the Island Sailing Club. It is a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, situated off the south coast of England. The race regularly attracts over 1,400 boats and around 15,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world. It is also the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon and the Great North and South Runs.
During the 2019 Round the Island Race, our boat Escapado finished first-in-class beating 9 other 40.7’s.
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-the-art, record-breaking greyhounds. Olympic gold medallists have tried their luck in the Sportsboat Rule and IRC classes, whilst grand old ladies of the sea, “Suhaili”, “Gipsy Moth IV” and “Lively Lady”, have given more modern designs a run for their money. The ISC Rating System division, for un-rated yachts, now exceeds the regular racers. For some of these sailors, this is their one race of the year and many use the event as a first taste of yacht racing. Entries come from all over the south and east coasts of England as well as from France, Belgium, Channel Islands and further afield. The event is reported in media across the world – from Brazil to Japan, Hungary to New Zealand.
The race is a 50 nautical mile course round the Isle of Wight. Starting on the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the fleet races westabout, to The Needles, round St Catherine’s Point and Bembridge Ledge buoy and back into the Solent to the finish line at Cowes.
Whether you compete regularly or are new to the sport, taking part in the Island Sailing Club’s Round the Island Race is a day to remember, sailing in one of the world’s largest sailing events in some of the best sailing waters!
*** Round the Island Race 2025 has been confirmed for June 7th however, the exact schedule has yet to be released. We do not believe the dates below will be altered, but please occasionally check this page as we will be updating it as soon as the full official schedule is released.
Hamble
The boats cross the start line at Cowes in eleven separate groups, starting every 10 minutes from 06:30 until 08:10. Departure from Hamble tbc, depending on our start time. Likely between 04:00 and 05:00
Arrival on the boat and meet your skipper and crew, followed by a safety brief and the regatta programme. You will spend the day getting to know your crew, followed by provisioning, getting the boat ready for the regatta and training to bind the team into a race crew.
We’ll have a crew dinner at a local restaurant.
We will depart Hamble between 4:00 and 5:00am.
The boats cross the start line at Cowes in eleven separate groups, starting every 10 minutes from 6:00am until 7:20am and heading in a westerly direction towards Yarmouth. The boats pass round the Needles Lighthouse, along the south-west coast of the Island to St. Catherine’s Point and then up across Sandown Bay to round the Bembridge Ledge Buoy. The fleet then makes its way either side of No Man’s Land Fort and across Osborne Bay to the finish line back at Cowes.
We will sail back to Hamble this evening. You can depart on arrival or the following morning.
After the race day and celebrations on board, we invite you for breakfast aboard the boat before heading home.
The Skipper and first mate were very knowledgeable and kept the boat going safely in gale force winds. Lots of fun riding the big waves around the needles and a big tick off my bucket list.