Slow going for competitors in Round the Island Race

With conditions not ideal for racing between Cowes and the 'Back of the Wight', with winds light to moderate, progress had been hampered for the serious racers, with any chance of beating records this year a bridge too far.

Gladiator, vying for top spot, passing The Needles this morning.

However, by 11am, the race leaders and last year's winners, Concise Fling, were powering along, with St Catherine's Point in its wake as the breeze returned, with Gladiator in second.

Tony Lawson's record-breaking MOD70 foiling trimaran, Concise Fling, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, set a new record at 2hrs 22mins 23secs for completing the race last year.

However, this year they have torn up their speed targets, with a win — even if it sets the slowest-ever winning time for line honours, at around 4hrs 30mins — the priority. 

Dame Ellen MacArthur, representing the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, the event's official charity, fired the cannon as official race starter for the 87th edition of the Round the Island Race from the Royal Yacht Squadron line.

It total, there were 11 starts.

Run by the Island Sailing Club, the 50 nautical mile 'race for all' is producing a fantastic day on the water for the 1,204 race teams taking part — and for the thousands of spectators at vantage points around the Isle of Wight coastline.

Last year, Gold Roman Bowl, a JPK 10.80, helmed by Adam Gosling, was last year's overall winner.

With light winds and a strong ebb tide, early racing was tricky, but the wind held as the starts progressed to allow teams to engage in a good tactical first leg along the western Solent towards the Needles.

The breeze has returned as the race leaders now head north, but they remain light. 

Tipped to be one of the hottest Round the Island Races on record in terms of temperature, the race features celebrities, which included Ben Fogle, aboard the sponsor's boat Cloudy Bay (Farr Carroll Marine 60) in his second circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight.

"Last year we enjoyed a perfect day, with some good breeze, to send our Farr 52 around in six hours," he said.

The best vantage points to watch the race are at St Catherine's Point, Ventnor, Bonchurch, Culver Down and Ryde Pier. 

An entertainment programme at Cowes Yacht Haven Race Village this afternoon will kick-off at 4pm, with live music from Close to Home at 7pm and Rockafellas at 9.30pm.