Olympians & Records Breakers join The Round The Island Race

The JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race has already attracted 973 entries and a host of Olympic stars will be amongst the 13,000 sailors lining up on the start line in Cowes.

Double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson is no stranger to the event, having competed on many occasions on a variety of craft. She will be joining fellow Team Volvo for life sailors, helming J/80 sportsboats for the 50-mile race around the Isle of Wight. Shirley plans to compete in the women’s keelboat discipline at the Beijing Olympic Games but for the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race she will be sailing against her crew rather than with them, since Annie Lush and Lucy MacGregor will each be heading their own J/80 team. Other skippers in the class include Helena Lucas, Britain’s top 2.4mR class, single-handed Paralympic sailor, plus Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield, who took silver in the 470 class at Athens.

Record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari  is currently preparing for her next challenge - the Vendee Globe solo, round the world yacht race. Her Open 60 “Aviva” will also be joining the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race fleet but for this event Dee will have the luxury of a crew, including top UK sailors Miranda Merron and Nigel King.

At 14, Michael Perham broke the record as the youngest person ever to sail single-handed across the Atlantic. In March, JPMorgan Asset Management assisted Michael in shipping his boat “Cheeky Monkey” from Antigua back to Cowes so he can join the race. Michael was also made an Honorary Cadet Member of the Island Sailing Club and like many other competitors in the race he will also be raising funds for charity.