Round the Island Race 2025

I (and I think most of the crew) approached this year’s race with some trepidation. Last year, the conditions were similar to the 2023 Fastnet, with F8 winds, rough seas and both Shustoke boats retiring. This year, Penny Tranter’s briefs to the Island Sailing Club were for winds approaching 40kn and a 3m sea state. Sailing in the days before, there were regular gusts up to 40kn, v 30kn forecasts, demonstrating a forecast is just that – a model, albeit a useful one.

As usual we assembled as a crew on the Thursday, with a nice pre-made meal on the boat, Mon Dilemme, a 37ft Oceanis from Fairview. The crew of seven comprised Allen Busby (skipper) Colin Garnham-Edge (first mate), Peter Dunn, Stuart Jones, Pingping Liu, David Reed and John Skinner.

The forecasts were uppermost in our mind, with the Island Sailing Club (ISC) at one point restricting boat classes and several retirements ahead of the race. We were fully aware of the forecasts but what would the morning hold? The day turned out to be far less fraught than expected. But still only 835 boats ended up crossing the line compared to the more usual 1,200plus.

We crossed the start line without incident at our designated slot, 08:20, with a favourable tide. With the weather in mind, we had two reefs, with a westerly wind slowly backing to WSW, of around 16 kn gusting to 18kn, requiring about 25 tacks to the Needles. At this point we were 23 minutes behind Pickle, the lead boat of the ISC 5B rating. By now, the wind was gusting up to 21kn compared to a forecast 30kn, and a 1.5m wave height (forecast 3m) but with wind against tide and on a deep reach, it was a bit rolly. 

Although we’d hired the cheapest spinnaker at £300, this was only rated up to 15kn wind, so it remained in the bag throughout our sail. Without it, this section was slow, though we were in the majority with whites. We followed the rhumb line more out to sea than most. By the time we reached St. Catherine's Point we were now 41 minutes behind the leading boat. The gusts by now had built to 27kn, compared to a forecast of 35kn. With the wind still WSW, we were now on a run.

Colin at the helm (one of two great turns) with Allen concentrating furiously.

Somehow, for reasons I’ll never understand, with Allen down below, we managed to go way out to sea before returning nearer to shore past Ventnor, losing about 30 minutes. By the time we reached Bembridge, it was an amazing fetch all the way, with a gradual veering of the wind avoiding the more usual need to tack continually and kiss the sands to minimize the effect of the adverse current. By the time we crossed the finish line at 17:07, our corrected time was 08:48, compared to Pickle’s 07:30. Overall, we were 16 out of 26 in ISC 5B, with 3 retiring. 37 out of  81 in ISC 5 and 101 out of 382 in the wider ISC rating system. I guess middling to good, but it certainly felt good. I don’t think the winner, a 70ft trimaran really counts.

What was the weather like, then? Well, dull, then sunny spells, then a deluge and finally back to sunny and warm to allow for a nice G&T at the end of the race. So we had it all. But at least we raced. What was the day like? Brilliant. Thanks are certainly due to each crew member and particularly to Alan and Colin (and David organising for making a safe, fun and rewarding weekend.

The team enjoyed a celebratory meal after the race (happily for us, photobombed by Beryl). My face is rather red from a fortnight of sun at sea rather than over-indulging, despite the half empty glass.

We’re led to believe that D’Artagnan, a supposedly similar boat, is faster, so if we stick with Fairview, maybe we should think of getting that. But I think its crew may also have a part in its success.

We mustn’t forget Roger Shinton sailing with Martin Hemming in his 32ft Contessa, Starstreak, finishing 12 out of 22 in ISC 7B and 16 out of 382 in the overall ISC scheme. Given the conditions, still somewhat gusty, lumpy and wet, the shorter waterline and lower freeboard, this was no mean achievement.