The 2007 JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race has broken the record for the highest number of finishers in the history of the race. The majority of results have now been processed and show a 2007 figure of 1,559 which may well increase once queries have been resolved.

Provisional results show the top IRC boat on handicap and winner of the Gold Roman Bowl is Edward Donald’s Folkboat Madelaine. The boat and owner have won the Gold Roman Bowl once before, in 1999. Edward commented: ‘We had a taxing day and had to make sure we got out of the tide. Basically we hugged the shore all day long – and saw a lot of the Island. Most of the time we were up with the H-Boats and quarter tonners. We had a great day out!’

Edward’s crew for the race were fellow Winchester ‘Dads’ Rob Reed and Dan Rigden, who all met through their children being students at Weston School. The boat is named after ‘Maddie’, Edward’s 10 year old daughter.

Race Control reported the final boat to cross the line was Corribee 21 Elektra at around 1930hrs. The boat was raced by Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year Katie Miller and Dan Monk. The pair encountered problems with gear failure throughout the day but had soldiered on, and in so doing helped The Ellen Macarthur Trust to raise over £30,000 today.