Ten students from the Southampton University Sailing Club recently participated in the renowned Round the Island Race on Saturday 1 July 2023. The annual, one-day yacht race encircles the Isle of Wight and is the fourth-largest mass participation event in the UK, following the London Marathon, Great North, and South Runs.
This year’s event brought together over 6000 competitors and 1100 boats, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world. This encourages a variety of sailors to compete, from skilled racers to casual cruisers. Our team was made up of a mixture of abilities, ranging from experienced yacht and dinghy sailors to members relatively new to yacht sailing and racing.
Talking about the team, Sam Richardson, third year Ship Science student and Commodore of Southampton University Sailing Club, said: “The idea of the club entering the race was [to provide] a way for those new to yacht racing to have an entry into, and taste of, the racing world, while allowing seasoned racers to pass on some of their knowledge.”
Starting from the famous Royal Yacht Squadron start line in Cowes, spectators lined the island’s coast to see the yachts navigate through the challenging 50 nautical mile course, passing the Needles Lighthouse and along the picturesque southwest coast of the Isle of Wight.
Sam tells us about the experience: “After an early rise and good (but busy!) start, the team had a good first leg, beating up the western Solent, making their way through the fleet. They were in a good position to go for the gap and thread the Needles.”
Sam continues to recount some challenges later in the race: “The kite was dropped and then re-hoisted as the swell worsened at St Catherine’s Point to avoid a risky gybe”, and the team experienced “a tough beat up the eastern Solent, having to be careful of tide.”
After hours of intense competition, Flying Formula, the boat representing the University of Southampton, crossed the finish line. The University’s Sailing Club finished an impressive 9th in their class of 36, and 206th out of 1100 overall, showcasing their sailing prowess and sportsmanship.
Sam ends by reflecting: “Overall, it was a great experience with lots learnt for everyone on board and plenty of fun had! As a club, we’re hopefully looking forward to doing something similar next year.”
See pictures of the team in action:
