Entry is now open for June’s 80th anniversary Round The Island Race.

The first start of the UK’s fourth largest participation sporting event will be at 0600 on Saturday June 25.

Lea Bennett, secretary for hosts Island Sailing Club (ISC), said: ‘We’re really excited to be celebrating this major milestone in the race history. It gives us the perfect opportunity to pull out all the stops and make 2011 a truly memorable year for everyone involved.

‘It would be great if the special memories from the past eight decades, that we’ll be promoting through the website and elsewhere, also help to encourage some new young blood to sign up to the race.

‘We have always enjoyed a fantastic mix of ages and abilities taking part and want to maintain that important all-embracing spirit of the race going forward.’

Entries before midnight on March 5 are £71, rising to £76 before midnight on May 28 and then £216 before noon on June 18. To enter click here.

ISC has also announced that the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust will be the official race charity for the 2011 and 2012 races.

Trust patron Dame Ellen MacArthur said: ‘The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust feels extremely privileged to become the official charity for the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.

‘We have seen first hand the positive effect sailing has on the young people and the official charity status will enable us to take 30 young people sailing in this year’s race.

‘It’s fantastic to be able to offer this experience, the looks on their faces when they see over 1,500 boats on the start line is incredible. All at the trust are looking forward to getting out on the start line on June 25.’

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