Jeremy Rogers‘s new eco-Contessa 32, Calypso, has become the first boat to enter this year’s Round the Island Race.

The boatbuilder launched Calypso at last year’s Southampton Boat Show to showcase green technology in yacht manufacturing.

The boat has a hybrid engine and features a teak alternative called Kebony.

Jeremy, 73, is the only person to have won the race three times in the same boat thanks to victories in 2002, 2003 and 2006 on his Contessa 26, Rosina of Beaulieu.

Jeremy said: ‘The good thing about racing in IRC in the Round The Island is that Calypso is rather overweight for a Contessa 32, with all the extra batteries for the hybrid engine and the Kebony deck and in IRC that weight will be taken into account.

‘It’s just about as exciting as a day’s yacht racing can be and we’re proud to be raising money for our local hospice, Oakhaven in Lymington, at the same time.’

This year’s staging is the 80th anniversary Round the Island Race and 2011 also marks 40 years since production of the Contessa 32 began in Jeremy’s Lymington yard.

His son Kit, who co-owns Calypso and will join him onboard, said: ‘We wanted to build a Contessa 32, which is a classic, top quality boat with the least possible impact on the environment, and this was a perfect opportunity to show that you can do both without compromising.’

A discounted early entry fee is available until midnight on March 5. For more information visit www.roundtheisland.org.uk.

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