With at least half of the yachts still racing in the 68th Round the Island race it looks like it's going to be a long evening for the crews

With at least half of the yachts still racing in the 68th Round the Island race it looks like it’s going to be a long evening for the crews, many of whom are already glowing from the blazing sun.

A steady stream of early starters has now crossed the finish line under spinnaker and a hazy blue sky.

Emma Richards on her Open 60Pindar Alphagraphicsbeat Mike Golding and Conrad Humphreys to take the new Lombard Marine Finance trophy. This is the first year the Open 60’s have competed against each other in their own class.

It’s a nail biting finish for the lucky students of local schools who have been racing hard since 8.30 this morning. The five teams, all representing an Isle of Wight secondary school, are racing one design J80’s and have been in close competition all the way. Each boat has a professional skipper onboard and a team of students who have spent the last 3 months preparing for the race including coaching sessions with Olympic stars.

Shirley Robertson helmingVolvo for Lifefinished provisionally 6th in the IRC Group O class. The double Olympic gold medallist’s crew included Athens silver medallist Nick Rogers, top Laser sailor Paul Goodison and a number of amateur crew, all part of the RYA Keelboat Squad “It was great to be under the expert guidance of Shirley. We really got going when we reached the Needles and then had to stay close inshore to get the best of the conditions”

The oldest boat in the race, the 100 year old 38ft Gaffer,Kelpiecertainly hasn’t shown her age. She’s already crossed the line, leaving the rest of her class struggling behind her!

Meanwhile Yachting World’s editor Andrew Bray is approaching the finish line having made good progress in the light breeze and with the tide now underneath his boatFirefly.

Mike Shepherd, Advertising manager for Yachting Monthly, is on board Folkboat,Rio, “It’s a cracking sail but the wind is dying slowly. We reckon we won’t finish until around 9pm”.

The time limit for finishing the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island race is 2200!

For more results as they happen and the final round up:

 ym/roundtheisland05/> www.yachtingmonthly.com