Twelve Oysters, ranging from the Oyster 26 Ariane to the Oyster 68 Starry Night took part in the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on Saturday 20 June, amongst a fleet of some 1770 yachts, providing an amazing spectacle for those watching from the shore.


In the Oyster fleet, Colin Hall, a well-known south coast sailor, and former Commodore of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, took fourth place in class in his Oyster 53, Boysterous.

The first Round the Island Race was organised by the Island Sailing Club of Cowes in 1931 and today their original ethos that the event is a 'people’s race' remains, bringing competitors from all walks of life. Professional and Olympic sailors lined up on the start with family cruisers, sportsboats, classic yachts and one designs.

Triple Olympic medalist Ben Ainslie, competed on an Extreme 40 for the first time in JPMorgan Asset Management/TEAMORIGIN, racing against triple America's Cup winner Russell Coutts on Team Aqua. Ellen MacArthur was on board the Open 60 BT and Olympic gold medalist Shirley Robertson skippered the Challenge The Ellen MacArthur Trust entry.

The oldest boat in the race was Rosenn co-owned by one of Oyster’s long-standing associates, yachting journalist Bob Fisher. Built in the Medina in 1896 she is the last remaining Solent one-design of the 22 built.