Leading some frequent fliers down the Solent runway is Barbara Harmer, the world’s first and only female Concorde pilot who, since the demise of that extraordinary head-turning aircraft, has turned her hand to a combination of horticulture and sailing.

Her yacht, Archambault, an Archambault A35, is co-owned by her partner Andrew Hewett who used to work in New Scotland Yard’s Specialist Operations Branch.

Jon Pentreath, a helicopter pilot from Halstock in Dorset, is racing his 1976 family cruiser, a Nicholson 39 called Plover. John leads the Commando Helicopter Force based at RNAS Yeovilton and will be joined by two other heli pilots. On board EMYS II the Williams family is being joined by flying enthusiast Nigel Taylor- Schofield who is a member of the Territorial Army.

Meanwhile, aeroplane designer Chris Burleigh from Wiltshire, has had a long career developing prototype and experimental aircraft both in the UK and USA. He will be racing his Beneteau Yogi with friends and family and looking to improve on last year’s overall 89th position.

Callisto of Lepe will be racing to raise funds for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Service. Two of the crew won their places on board this Sagitta 35 by bidding £1100 at a charity auction.

Rounding off the flight-related entries is the aptly named X-Yacht Exocet. After being bought in 2009 in a slightly neglected state, a full refurbishment was carried out and the team led by Alan Draper from landlocked Ripley, enjoyed huge success with her in the 2009 Fastnet Race.