he Round the Island race is fast approaching [15 June]. It ranks as one of Britain’s great summer sailing spectaculars, alongside the likes of Cowes Week and the Fastnet. It also holds the distinction of being the highest-participation sailing event in, possibly, the world. Its principal prize, the Gold Roman Bowl, continues to act like a magnet for small classic yachts – particularly Folkboats, Nordic Folkboats and Contessa 26s. Since 1991, these classes have won it 12 times, with the Co26 , under the late Jeremy Rogers, holding the record for the only yacht to win it three times (2002, 2003 and 2006).
