Round the Island with Mailspeed Marine

The first ever round the island race was held in 1931 with 25 entries. In the 78 years since, the concept is still the same, however with entry for this year’s event standing at 1,178 boats the 50 mile course around the Isle of Wight can be expected to be slightly busier than in 1931.

The Round the Island race epitomises the inclusive nature of the sport of sailing where the average Saturday afternoon sailor has the opportunity to go head to head with the rock stars of the sport. Round the World record holders and Olympic Gold medallists line up against retired doctors, students and entire families.

Whether you’re aiming for line honours or just making it round in one piece, here at Mailspeed we have everything you should need to help you round quickly and safely!

For those who want every last knot of boat speed, why not treat your hull to the revolutionary new HySpeedKote™ which, unlike other sealants, is a hydrophilic coating. This means it attracts water and allows your boat to move through the water with less effort, regardless of composition, configuration, or size.

No matter who you are, we all want to be safe whilst on the water. That’s why we stock such a vast range of safety equipment – from Solas liferafts to lifejacket lights and everything between. Many sailors of all experience and standards still appear reluctant to wear lifejackets, using such excuses as “it’s uncomfortable” or “it gets in the way”, well with the latest design innovations in the lifejacket manufacture these old excuses are no longer valid. Why not take a look at the revolutionary Spinlock Deckvest, which is aimed specifically at the active racing market. With its sleek design and close fit, it’s proven to be one of our most popular lifejackets ever. For skippers looking for a great quality lifejacket to fit out their extra crew whilst keeping the budget under control then look no further than the Seago Olympic automatic lifejacket. At just £59.99 it comes complete with built in hood, light and crutch straps.

If a long day on the water in your smelly old oilies with the leaky zip and worn out knees is already putting you off, then maybe it’s time for an upgrade. Amongst the large selection of top brand clothing available both in store and online there are a couple of great new additions to our clothing range. The New Zealand brand Line-7 is better known in Europe for making top of the range ski kit, however with many happy customers in the southern hemisphere including the Team New Zealand America’s cup crew, this kit is top quality at a respectable price. The Line-7 offshore jacket currently comes with a free fast dry cap worth £14.95. Italian manufacturers Slam have been dressing the great and the good of Europe in their more race specific waterproofs for years now and these are now available in the UK. Made from high tech waterproof and breathable materials the Slam range benefits from that little bit of Italian design flare which ensures that not only do you stay dry and comfortable you can also look good whilst out on the water.

Do you have everything you need for you and your boat? Here are a few last minute reminders of the essential items that are easy to forget in the excitement of preparation:

Handheld VHF – Icom M35
First Aid Kit – Crewmedic 1st aid kit
Soft wood Bungs
Imray C3 Chart of the Isle of Wight
Wight Hazards
book

Whether you’re aiming for first place or just to finish, good luck to you from all of us at Mailspeed Marine!