A crew from Hampshire will compete in the inaugural Antartica Cup, a non-stop race around Antartica due to start in December 2004, which has attracted some of the biggest names in offshore yacht racing.

The British syndicate, currently operating out of headquarters near Romsey, is led by John Quigley, who sits on the Volvo Ocean Race Syndicate Council and features Isle of Wight navigation expert Mike Broughton.

Called Brit XL, the project was established not just to participate in the Antartica Cup, which is offering £4 million in prize money - the most ever offered for a sailing race - but to develop opportunities for top class British yachtsmen in the premier racing events.

"We had our eyes on the next Volvo Ocean Race but the Antartica Cup came on to the radar and it looked like an interesting formula as long as the organisation is done well," said Quigley who is now seeking sponsorship to the tune of £3 million.

Sailing legends Paul Cayard, Roy Heiner and Australia's Grant Wharington have already signed up for the race, which will be contested in an identical fleet of Ron Holland-designed maxi yachts.

A conference has been scheduled for August where syndicates will gather to discuss the design of the 82-foot boats but depending on the configuration, crews of up to 14 are likely.

The race is being billed as a 'dash for cash' through the Southern Ocean and will start from Fremantle in Australia.

Brit XL is likely to feature some of Britain's top racing names, most of them currently competing in the Volvo Ocean Race and Quigley says the Hampshire-based crew will be a winning one.

"We are here to do this properly which means we are here to win. In the past, the British have been happy just to take part but we will adopt an American attitude which makes coming second unthinkable."

l The Round the Isle of Wight race to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Folkboat proved a close run thing with Rob Berwick's Svenja and previous RTI winner Celia Mary racing neck and neck for most of the nine-hour competition.

The fleet was divided into the British cruising boats who were started first at Hirst Castle in winds blowing force 3-4 and the one design fleet who set off from the Royal Lymington Yacht Club start line.

A close beat out to the Needles ensued with Malcolm Donald and Mike Stoner first round in Celia Mary, closely followed by Simon Osgood with Stewart Becker in So! and Berwick in Svenja.

Celia Mary and Svenja began to stretch ahead of the remaining pack as the wind freed for the dead downwind leg to Bembridge Ledge buoy where they overtook the cruising folkboats.

As the fleet approached Osbourne Bay and Cowes, the leading two boats lost their momentum under the bay prior to Cowes, which allowed the rest of the fleet to catch up but as the wind filled in, the well matched Svenja and Celia Mary forged ahead and it was Svenja who crossed the line first.