#rtir – Early indications are that the two biggest stories emerging from the serious racers will be among the smallest boats in the fleet. In the multihull fleet, the four GC32 foiling catamarans are blasting around the south side of the island at speeds of 25-30 knots. By 0945 they were already off Bembridge at the eastern end of the island, although the giant MOD70 Trimaran remained a mile ahead on the water. WATCH THE ROUND THE ISLAND RACE LIVE HERE!
Among the hottest IRC rated monohulls competing for the coveted Gold Roman Bowl, the smallest boats are currently tipped to do well on corrected time. Conditions are currently perfect for those in IRC Group 3, with the west-going tide helping to push them towards the Needles at a higher speed over the ground than their rating would predict.
One of the smallest boats in the fleet at 19ft, Dave Webb's Newbridge Navigator, Fair Sail is roughly one-third of the way down the western Solent. "We are having a beautiful day, with plenty of breeze – we couldn't have asked for better conditions."
The first finishers are expected within the next hour – stay tuned!
The 16,000 competitors - both amateurs and professionals - in this year's J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race were assembling in the early morning light to make their final preparations for this annual nautical extravaganza.
The first start, for the biggest and fastest monohulls, including Mike Slade's multiple record breaking 100ft supermaxi Leopard and the stunning modern classic 160ft schooner Eleonora, got away on schedule at 0700 in a north-westerly breeze of 8-12 knots and bright sun.
A ridge of high pressure pushing in from the southwest should ensure it remains beautifully sunny for most of the day, with the breeze increasing through the morning to give a moderate to strong south westerly by midday. This will make for perfect conditions for the 1,584 boats taking part in this year's race.
The next hour will see the main bulk of the fleet starting, with the density of yachts filling the western Solent gradually increasing until the waters are packed with yachts. However, by 0800 the front runners will need to be well past the Needles at the western extremity of the Isle of Wight if they are to have any hope of breaking the race records that were set two years ago.
A beat to the Needles
At 0710, the second start saw a further eight classes get away, including gaffers and a wide variety of multihulls. The latter ranged from the four professional teams in the ultra fast foiling GC32 class, to the giant MOD70 trimaran Concise 10. The latter is sailing with an all-star crew including French round the world racer Jean Pierre Dick and Paul Larsen, holder of the outright world sailing speed record at 65.45 knots.
The wind has swung more into the west for the early starters, giving a full beat to the Needles, which precludes the likelihood of records being broken - two years ago Sir Ben Ainslie rounded the Needles 38 minutes after the start on his record breaking race. The leader on the water currently appears to be Mike Slade's 100ft monohull Leopard, who is just past Yarmouth.
The largest of the more cruising oriented yachts in ISC Rating System divisions have also now started. While these boats lack the sheer adrenaline and speed potential of some of those in the IRC divisions, they are more likely to be sailed by family crew, but the intensity of the competition is often just as intense as it is among the teams of professional sailors at the front of the fleet.
