Shirley Robertson with her Yngling team, from left to right Annie Lush, Lucy Macgregor and Shirley Robertson

A host of Olympic stars will be amongst the 13,000 sailors lining up on the start line in Cowes early on Saturday 23 June. Double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson is no stranger to the event, having competed on many occasions. This year, she will helm a J/80 sportsboats for the 50-mile race around the Isle of Wight.

Robertson is hoping to represent England in the Yngling keelboat at the Beijing Olympic Games, but during the Round the Island Race she will be sailing against her crew rather than with them, since Yngling crew Annie Lush and Lucy MacGregor will each be heading their own J/80 team. Other skippers in the competitive 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, preparing for the Vendee Globe, will be racing her Open 60 ‘Aviva’ in the race, with a crew including top British sailors Nigel King and Miranda Merron. 

Entries for the race can still be made through the website www.roundtheisland.org.uk