The annual Round the Island Race got off to an exciting start on Saturday 2nd July, with HRH Prince Michael of Kent firing the first gun at 8.30am. It was a fast-paced and action-packed day of broken records and aroung 1,500 yachts vying for the win.

Sir Keith Mills’ FAST 40+ Invictus had a few big names on board, including Invictus Games competitor Zoe Williams and Prince Harry, following a long-standing invitation to compete in the Race this year. They just missed out on winning first IRC yacht on corrected time, settlling instead for second place. The main prize went to Bernard Langley’s TP52 Gladiator.  which powered around the course to become the second monohull to finish, crossing the line less than four and a half hours after the start.

Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70 trimaran Phaedo^3 tore round the course in two hours 23 minutes and 23 seconds, smashing Sir Ben Ainslie’s 2013 record. Despite testing conditions and winds of 40 knots, only a few of the fleet withdrew from the competition.

In a dramatic turn one boat, owned by the Commodore of Island Sailing Club, was dismasted and sunk just off the Needles.

It was the race sponsors, J.P.Morgan Asset Management, 12th and final year.

See our gallery of the race, all photography by Gillian Downes

gillysphotography.co.uk