WHILE there will be many modern boats competing in the Round-the-Island race, there are also some veteran hulls.

The yacht 'Kelpie', for example, will be celebrating its 100th birthday.

Launched in the Solent in 1903, 'Kelpie' has previously won the Old Gaffers class in the Round the Island.

Another classic boat racing is Gian Giblett's 'Piccolino' built at Burns of Bosham in 1958.

One yacht that will certainly turn heads is the J Class 'Velsheda', one of three J-Class yachts which competed in the America's Cup Jubilee Regatta in 2001 and needs 25 crew.

Weighing in a 180 tons, with 180-foot mast and 130-foot length, the boat comes with 25 crew members.

Dr Paul Jonason will have a good reason for celebrating after the race as it's his 83rd birthday.

A retired medical practitioner, he will be sailing his Nicholson 32 'Ngaire'.

Yacht designer Ed Dubois will be sailing 'Firebrand' built for the Admiral's Cup in Cowes in 1965.

Dubois, who will be competing in his 25th Round-the Island race, and co-owner Esben Poulson bought the boat in 1998 and have been restoring her ever since.

HAMBLE sailor Emma Richards was the first person to enter the Around-the-Island race via the internet.

Richards entered online 36 hours after leaving New Zealand en route to Brazil in the fourth leg of the Around Alone race.

In last year's Round-the-Island race, the crew of Richards' yacht, 'Pindar', was joined by a television team from Channel 4's 'Faking It'.

Emma helped Lucy Craig learn how to skipper a racing boat and they completed the 55-mile course in just over six and a half hours.