First classes away in Round the Island Race
'Hugo Boss'
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Alex Thomson's Open 60 Hugo Boss was involved in a pre-start incident with the Farr 45 Atomic which was dismasted and the bowsprit of Hugo Boss damaged. Nonetheless, she crossed the start line of the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race heading for The Needles. Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton was sat out on the weather rail, clearly enjoying himself.
The annual JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race got underway at 6am on Saturday 28 June. The weather forecast indicated the possibility of a record-breaking race with a 15/20 knot west-southwesterly breeze.
Dave Atkinson, Deputy Chief Race Officer, said: 'The conditions could well suit the Open 60s and ICAP Leopard. It may all depend on the sea state south of the Island. The Open 60s don't like a short, sharp chop'.
20 minutes into the race, ICAP Leopard was off Newtown Creek and going well. The brand new Team Russia Volvo 70 was half a mile back followed by the New Zealand maxi Zana. In the Extreme 40 class, the leader was Team Aqua WLT (Jim Turner) followed by Oman and TeamOrigin.
As the head of the fleet passed Yarmouth, the visibility deteriorated, almost to fog, but the bank was rolling quickly east which should leave The Needles clear.
by Flavia Bateson 
Aldgate, SA
