The JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race takes place this Saturday 28 June with a record nearly 1900 entries expected for the 50 mile course. British Americas Cup syndicate Team Origin will be present in 3 boats, Ben Ainslie will sail onboard Hugo Boss with F1 hero Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Dunstone’s TP52 Rio will also compete.

There will be 5 Extreme 40s racing this year, all trying to beat the multihull record set by Francis Joyon of 3 hours, 8 minutes and 29 seconds. The competing teams include JP Morgan Asset Management, BT, Oman Sail, Volvo Ocean Race and Team Origin. Extreme 40 skipper Rob Greenhalgh commented “This race is one I always look forward to. Despite the mega early start (0445 meet on the boat!), it never really seems to take as long as you think and you’re back in Cowes before you know it! This is the first time I am doing it on an Extreme 40 so I am really hoping for the right weather window as I am convinced that these boats have the ability to beat the multihull record. At the moment it looks like 15 knots southwesterly which probably will not be enough to break Francis Joyon’s record but it will be fun to be out there with over 1800 other boats anyhow!”

Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman on Team Origin, will compete onboard Hugo Boss, an IMOCA 60, with Alex Thompson and the legendary Lewis Hamilton onboard. They will be hoping to take on the monohull record set by ICAP Leopard of 4 hours, 5 Minutes and 40 seconds. However ICAP Leopard have raced back from Ireland to compete, having just beaten the Round Ireland record.