Forecast fuels hope of Round the Island Race record

Forecast perfect weather conditions have fuelled hope of a new race record being set at the Round the Island Race, organisers have said.

Over 800 boats are set to cross the Royal Yacht Squadron Line at Cowes with various classes setting off every 10 minutes on Saturday from 07:00 BST.

Race director, Dave Atkinson, said: "The forecast looks amazing for the race and the winds look like being the best we've had for some time."

The race, a 50-nautical mile (93 km) lap of the Isle of Wight, sees the fleet of boats head west from Cowes towards The Needles, before arriving back in Cowes via St Catherine's Lighthouse, Bembridge and Ryde.

The race sees professional sailors go up against amateurs, with a unique handicap system meaning any boat can win its prize - the coveted Gold Roman Bowl.

Organisers said the weather conditions "expected to be the best the race has seen in a number of years.... mean there is potential for a new race record to be set".

The course record for a monohull boat, set by Mike Slade on ICAP Leopard in 2013, is 3h 43m 50s.

Ned Collier Wakefield hold the multihull record of 2h 22m 23s in 2017, on Concise 10.

The first race took place in 1931 with 25 entries.