Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Clipper Race alumni ready to compete again in Round the Island Race

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston will race alongside Clipper Race alumni who are on three Clipper 68 ocean racers in the 83^rd JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on Saturday. 

The Clipper Events founder and legendary yachtsman will race round the Isle of White, UK, on his newly fitted-out Open 60, Haven KJ Grey Power. 

The 75-year-old will be trialling the new kit ahead of his participation in French single-handed classic the Route du Rhum this November. 

Knox-Johnston will be racing in the Open 60 class against Rosalba with his grandson Oscar, 17, as well as some friends and several Clipper Race employees.
 
He said: “The J.P Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race is a fabulous event with entrants ranging from millionaire’s boats to the person next door’s dinghy. 
 
“I have done it many times and am looking forward to giving the boat a good run and some practice following the fit-out.” 

This is the tenth time that Clipper Events has entered the world’s largest single sailing race in existence. The yachts will compete in its own class, the Clipper Yacht class, created in 2009 for the chance to win the Vaphio Cup, donated from event organisers the Island Sailing Club to Clipper Events to use as their class cup. 

The Clipper 68s made their final circumnavigation in the last edition of the biannual Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Built for speed, the three entries will be crewed by Nautica, Martin Morell caterers and other individuals from all walks of life with a variety of sailing experience. 

Two of the crew on board CV3, Welcome to Yorkshire are crew members from the Clipper 2011-12 Race that sailed on board the entry. Wendy Fail, a 35 year old Environmental Consultant from Northumberland, took part in Leg 8. 

Joining her fellow team mates to race round the island, Wendy says: “I heard about the RTI a couple of years ago but this is the first time I have participated. I decided to take part with Clipper Events because I knew the boats, knew that Clipper Events was a trustworthy, professional organisation and I felt comfortable using its services again.  

“I was thrilled to learn I would be back on Welcome to Yorkshire.  She served us extremely well during the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and I am really looking forward to being back on board again.  It is even better that I am sharing this experience with a couple of old crew mates.”