Round the Island Race 2022: How to follow – a spectator’s guide

Toby Heppell

Don't miss any of the action from the Round the Island Race 2022 with this spectator's guide. We outline the various ways you can keep up to date with the race from shoreside or from home

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The Round the Island Race is one of the most popular sailing races in the world, regularly seeing thousands of boats taking part. Not only that, but it is one of the few occasions in sport that manages to bring such a diverse range of entrants together to compete with one another as will once again be the case for the Round the Island Race 2022.

This year the Round the Island race celebrates its 90th anniversary. What began as a race for 25 starters in 1931 has grown and grown to a peak of over 1,800 competitors. For many sailors, the Round the Island Race is a once-a year, not-to-be-missed jolly on a summer’s day. For others it is a battle of wits over a complex course, involving changing currents, unpredictable breezes and idiosyncratic tides.

Many competing will be big names in the sport with Olympians and offshore legends regularly taking part. As such, the Round the Island Race does represent something of a unique days sailing, offering the chance to directly test yourself against sailing heroes.

As with much of the sporting calendar the Round the Island Race has been seriously affected by Covid in the last few years and the Round the Island Race 2022 is the first proper return of the race in its usual late-June time slot.

When does the Round the Island Race 2022 start?

With so many boats taking part it would be all but impossible to get everyone underway in one go, so Round the Island Race competitors are split into fleets of vessels with similar performance levels.

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The fastest boats go first to avoid the possibility of the whole fleet converging on one section of the course at the same time. This year the first start will be at 08:00 BST.

Round the Island Race 2022 start order:

Start time: 0800 (BST)
Open 60
IRC Group 0
IRC Group 1
Class 40
Clipper Yachts

Start time: 0810
Multihulls Grand Prix and MOCRA Racing
Multihulls Bridgedeck
Catamaran Cruiser
Diam 24
Gaffers Divisions 1, 2 & 3

Start time: 0820
Sportsboat
J/70
Sunsail 41.0

Start time: 0830
ISC Rating System Group 4

Start time: 0840
IRC Group 2
J/80
J/88

Start time: 0850
IRC Group 3

Start time: 0900
ISC Rating System Group 5

Start time: 0910
ISC Rating System Group 6
Classic Racing Yachts racing under ISCRS
Modern Classic Racing Yacht racing under IRC

Start time: 0920
ISC Rating System Group 7
Nordic Folkboat

Start time: 0930
ISC Rating System Group 8

On the Isle of Wight? Watch from ashore…

As the excitement builds you will want a fantastic vantage point to watch the action. The table below outlines the best viewing points at each stage of the race along with directions of how to get to them. Prepare yourself to race around the island yourself by road or find a spot and stick to it, it’s up to you!

Cowes (Start) 0800 – 0930 Via Ward Avenue, Baring Road & Castle Hill to the Parade and the Green either side of the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Sconce Point 0930 – 1200 From Yarmouth, drive towards Freshwater. Turn right after 1/2 mile and follow signs to Fort Victoria.
The Needles 0930 – 1200 From Freshwater or Totland follow signs to the Needles Car Park. Park and walk up West High Down to Needles Battery. Best view to south of Coast Guard Station.
Chilton Chine 1045 – 1400 Situated on the cliffs near Brighstone is Chilton Chine (accessible from the Military Road). It has a terrific view of the boats as they sail by.
St Catherine’s Point 1130 – 1530 From Freshwater, Rookley or Ventnor go to Niton. Take loop road to Buddle Inn. Park and walk down cliffs by lighthouse.
Ventnor 1145 – 1600 Park on Cliff at West End of Esplanade.
Bonchurch 1200 – 1630 Take lane down to sea opposite Bonchurch pond. Take left turn and park in car park at bottom, which is best view.
Culver Down 1230 – 1730 From Brading, take Bembridge road. After 1 mile, turn right and follow sign for Culver (on a bend, and lane hairpins up!)
Ryde Pier 1330 – 1830 From Ryde Esplanade, drive up pier and park at end. Parking for 1 hour.
Cowes (Finish) 0930 – 2000 Via Ward Ave., Baring Road & Castle Hill to the Parade and the Green either side of the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Alternatively you can stay in the Race Village, located on the Parade in Cowes, where there will be live entertainment, food and drink, and the chance to chat with race sponsors Helly Hansen, Raymarine and the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

But if you’re not lucky enough to be there in person when the starting cannon fires, don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to follow the race, no matter where you are.

Online coverage

There are a selection of ways to follow on the official Round the Island Race website, including regular news updates and GPS tracking.

Social media

You’ll also be able to follow the event on Twitter using the hashtag #raceforall for race updates and via the official Facebook page. The best photos from the day can also be found on the official Round the Island Race Instagram page.

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