New race named in honour of Round the Island founder
A new race for boats too small to compete in the iconic Round the Island event will be held for the first time this summer.
The Windeler Cup is open to keelboats and will be run on the same day as the RTI event on Saturday, July 3. Entries open today.
Instead of sailing the full 50-nautical mile course of the main race, boats from the Daring, Dragon, Etchells, Flying Fifteen, Mermaid, Redwing, Sunbeam, Swallow, Sonar, Squib, RS Elite, Victory and XOD classes will compete in a ‘Round the Solent’ race.
It will start from the
Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes, around 8.30am after the main RTI fleet is underway, and will head towards Hurst Narrows, around Western Solent marks, before taking advantage of favourable tides to return along Cowes beach.
The new race is named after the RTI founder, Major Cyril Windeler, who 90 years ago decided there needed to be an opportunity for owners of smaller yachts to enjoy a ‘bigger than usual’ competition.
He presented the Island Sailing Club with a magnificent trophy called the Gold Roman Bowl which was awarded to the overall winner of the race.
Major Windeler won the trophy himself in 1939, onboard his cutter ‘Kaliste.
Also new for this 90th anniversary year is the launch of a RTI Rowing Race on Thursday, July 1.
The Bubbleheads team will use the race - which covers the full 50-mile RTI course - as training for their Atlantic Challenge event starting in December.
Bubbleheads Navigator Andrew Taw said: ‘The ocean rowing teams feel privileged and honoured to be invited to one of the greatest yachting regattas in the world.
‘We hope to share our passion for the sea with the sailors and immerse ourselves in the rich history of the (RTI) race.
‘It provides us with valuable preparation for our Atlantic Challenge; rowing around the island non-stop will enable teams to practice night rowing, routines and planning their kit onboard.’