The infamous Gurnard Ledge claimed its first victim as the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island race got underway.

Sadly it was the popular amateur crew on board the Farr 52Bear of Britainwho came a cropper when tacking inshore just after the start.

Helmsman Mark Campbell-Jones was philosophical “We were trying to gybe but the tide just pushed us on”

The yacht was forced to take assistance from its own RIB to pull it off and therefore retired. Damage appears to be limited to a scraping of the lead on the bulb keel.

The yacht had already made headlines before the start as its owner Kit Hobday has, with his wife Susie, established the awareness initiative ‘Ignorance Isn’t Bliss’ for Prostate Cancer Campaign UK which has been adopted as this year’s official charity for the race.

To raise money all competitors have been supplied with a “fines bag”, for donations to be made resulting from lash-ups, shouting and other misdemeanours on board during the race. No doubt a large donation is expected from both helm and tactician!