Twelve hours after the first start in the 2008 JPMorgan Asset Management Race and few boats were left to cross the finish line in Cowes.

The day started overcast but breezy as the boats tacked down towards The Needles. The main problem on the next leg – to St Catherine’s Point – was visibility as banks of low fog rolled eastwards. The sea condition south of the island was described as grim, hairy, wild, lumpy and on the edge. As the leaders returned to the Solent, however, the sun came out and the wind lessened but became shifty, keeping everyone on their toes to the end.

The race usually favours either the big or the small boats, but the results overall showed a real mixture at the top of the leaderboard. First came a big boat from IRC0, Ran – TP52, followed by Darren Masters’ diminutive quarter tonner Catch. Last year’s Gold Roman Bowl winner Edward Donald came third in his 25 foot Folkboat with another TP52, Henri Lloyd Cutting Edge, eight seconds later on corrected time.

The ISC Rated Class showed the top boat and winner of the Silver Gilt Roman Bowl as Sandpiper, Adrian Creedy’s Parker 235. Willem Wester was second in his brand new Grand Soleil Antilope. He also wins the JPMorgan Asset Management Family Trophy, racing with his wife, daughter and granddaughter Emily aged 13. Twilight a 1961 Robb Lion design was third with Patrick Moreton. Just 22 seconds later on corrected time came the South Coast One Design Marbella (Mark Taylor).

The maxi ICAP Leopard achieved another victory and a new Round the Island record – 3h 53m 5s. As for the IMOCA monohulls, Mike Golding (Ecover 3) won the 2008 edition, following Alex Thomson’s disqualification on Hugo Boss.

Alex Thomson had on board Ben Ainslie and the Formula 1 racing driver, Lewis Hamilton. In spite of losing his bowsprit following a collision with another competitor in the pre-start phase, Hugo Boss went on to finish first with a time of 4h 23m and 29s, just ahead of Ecover 3. However, late on Saturday afternoon, the jury was to change the rankings by disqualifying Hugo Boss, because of the collision that arose just before the start of the Round the Island race.Officially Mike Golding was declared the winner in the Open 60s on his Ecover 3.

Complete results for all classes at www.roundtheisland.org.uk .