Dame Ellen MacArthur presents prizes galore to the 2012 J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race winners.

Image: Roger Thompson, J.P. Morgan Asset Management (left) with the winning crew of Manroland Sheetfed and Tony Langley holding the Gold Roman Bowl, presented by Dame Ellen MacArthur at the prizegiving at the Island Sailing Club in Cowes. Photo: Patrick Eden. 

The post-J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race atmosphere in the sunny town of Cowes was mainly one of relief and immense pleasure.

Competitors enjoyed a challenging, lively and memorable day of racing on Saturday, 30 June, organised and run by the Island Sailing Club.  The 81st Round the Island Race, the biggest yacht race in the world, this year attracted an entry of 1,647 boats across 25 classes.  Of these, 1,198 crossed the finish line yesterday within the 2200 deadline; 247 retired, giving a 73% finish rate which is precisely the same percentage as in 2011 when the 80th Anniversary Race attracted a record entry of 1,908 yachts and welcomed home 1,345 finishers.

At the exceptionally well-attended Prizegiving, hosted by the Island Sailing Club, the upbeat audience was welcomed by the Club’s Commodore Rod Nicholls who made special mention of the Coastguard and inshore lifeboat services to a heartfelt round of applause. An impressive array of gold and silverware was handed out by Roger Thompson, COO of J.P Morgan Asset Management and presented to the prize winners by the guest of honour, Dame Ellen MacArthur, attending in her capacity as Patron of the Official Charity, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The Prizegiving was MC’d by the ISC’s Sailing Secretary, Chris Thomas.

The winner of the prestigious Gold Roman Bowl for first boat overall on IRC handicap was Tony Langley’s TP52 Manroland Sheetfed. Competing in IRC 0, Manroland Sheetfed (aka Weapon of Choice) was the second monohull to complete the course, finishing in 4 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds to win on corrected time by just three minutes. As the first monohull to finish, the Observer Trophy went to Mike Slade and ICAP Leopard whilst the Silver Roman Bowl was won by last year’s Gold Roman Bowl winner, Jo Hutchinson, on Sundowner.

OBSERVER TROPHY & JPMAM TROPHY - First Monohull to finish - GBR1R ICAP Leopard, MIKE SLADE

GOLD ROMAN BOWL & JPMAM SALVER - First Overall IRC - GBR5252L Manroland Sheetfed Tony Langley

SILVER ROMAN BOWL & JPMAM SALVER - Second Overall IRC  - CO1228 Sundowner, Jo Hutchinson

Next year’s Race will take place on Saturday, 1 June and rumour has it that it’s another one of those very early starts!

Full results and prizes can be found here.

Images and video coverage from this year’s J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race can be found at www.roundtheisland.org.uk.

Race Partners 2012: Britannia Events, Haven Knox-Johnston, Henri Lloyd, Nautica Watches, Old Pulteney Whisky, Raymarine, Red Funnel, Small Luxury Hotels of the World & Volvo Car UK.