THIS week’s report is a first-hand account of the biggest yacht race in the world, as I join the trophy-winning crew of an MG27 named ‘Mojito’.

The Round the Island Race this year attracted an entry of 1,647 boats across 25 classes. Of these, 1,198 crossed the finish line, 247 having retired.

With a fresh to strong wind forecast for the whole weekend many others stayed at home, but those that ventured forth had a quick race in testing conditions.

Those who passed the test would surely agree that, although it was tough, it was one of the best Round the Island races ever.

The race is a hard slog around the Isle of Wight anticlockwise. After the start off Cowes, the south-westerly wind gave a beat to the Needles in crowded waters and lumpy seas.

Experience is a key factor in the race with many ‘one-off’ crews soon overtaken.

This race is a one-off for many and for those inexperienced crews the lack of racing knowledge saw them overtaken early.

By the Needles we were among the yachts that started some time beforehand. Our decision was to cut inside the wreck, with seas at this point not too bad, and the area not overcrowded.

Then came a beam reach against the tide to St Cats. Very few boats with spinnakers were flying successfully, while others were in trouble. We opted to keep in control and concentrate on a good course in reasonable tide, albeit adverse.

Next followed a run in difficult seas past Ventnor, this again was against the ebb tide. With the wind on the quarter, it was time for record-breaking speeds as we surfed down the waves.

Sandown and Shanklin, and a dead run, necessitated a gybe into the bay. Two more gybes and we were at Bembridge, round the mark and on our way past Sea View. We just avoided Ryde Sands, many don’t!

With Cowes in sight it was the usual beat back, which was not as tiring as I recall from other years. For everyone that completes the race there is a feeling of relief, joy and satisfaction.

Our reward was the Arun YC Challenge Team Trophy with ‘Solmate’ and ‘Shebeen’ the other two Poole boats in our team.

Local winners included Jim Macgregor (IRC Division Two) and David Scott (WS Jubilee Cup), while Andrew Pearce was runner-up in the IRC 0 Class.

Others: Janet Fletcher and Chris Blackburn (ISC Rating System Division Six B), Ed Wilton (Division Seven D), Mark Woodhouse (Discovery Trophy), George Dibben (Foxhound Trophy), Keith Lovett (Bavaria OAC), Andrew Pearce (Shepherds Trophy).