The first boat to enter this year’s Round the Island Race, the 82nd, is an Evolution 26. Redshank, a Devon-based 30 year-old yacht is owned and raced by Stuart Palmer , 47, from Teignmouth.

Stuart, who is self-employed, married with two children, is entering the Race for the first time but has two crew members who have competed before. Julian Weyer Brown won the family class with his yacht Coral of Teignmouth in 2006 and Mathew Owen competed and finished last year helming Moon-Stream.
 
‘We race at our home club and at the Torbay Regatta but the Round the Island Race is the biggest event for us to compete in. Even the delivery trip from Devon is a big adventure,’ said Stuart. ‘During 2012 we achieved 2nd in the Cruiser Class at Torbay Week and won ‘Fleet 2′ at our local club, Teign Corinthian Yacht Club. We consider these very good results given the age of the boat and third-hand sails.’