25 Apr 2012
Round the Island Race
The Round the Island Race is one of the biggest yacht races in the world. It’s a one-day event attracting over 1,700 yachts and around 16,000 sailors, also making it one of the largest participation sporting events in the UK.
Watching the fleet from Freshwater Cliffs
Competitors come from all over the UK, Europe and as far away as the USA to follow the 50 nautical mile course round the Isle of Wight. Starting at the famous Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, the fleet races to The Needles, round St Catherine’s Point and Bembridge and back into the Solent to the finish line at Cowes.
There are many vantage points in the west Wight to watch the race but you need to get up early as the first yachts set off from Cowes at 6am. However the fleet usually reaches Fort Victoria by around 8am and is rounding the Needles between 8 and 10am. Much depends on the direction and strength of the wind, sometimes they get there much sooner! From the Studio Apartment it’s a short walk to the cliffs above Freshwater Bay, for a long distance view of the fleet. For a closer look Fort Victoria or the Needles provide the best views.
The race takes place on 30th June 2012- for more information see the Round the Island Website – www.roundtheisland.org.uk