Drakes Drum was the winner of the Silver Gilt Roman Bowl in 2005 and, under skipper Terry Rowe, is a frequent Class winner in the Round the Island Race. Terry has run an RYA teaching establishment in Cowes for many years and clearly puts his wealth of experience and local knowledge to good use when competing in the Race.

Robert Elliott, an Etchell sailor who came a creditable 7th in the 2009 Etchell Worlds in Melbourne alongside Stuart Childerley, himself a past Olympic Finn sailor at the Seoul and Barcelona Games, also won the 1996 Round the Island Race in ‘Eagle’. Robert’s back on the start line this year racing the Farr 45 Linklaters – Exabyte Four, helmed by Stuart Childerley, A previous Gold Roman Bowl winner Cowes-based Peter Morton, is racing his ¼ Tonner Anchor Challenge and will be hoping to match his results in 1984, 1986 and 2001 on Odd Job, Indulgence and Mandrake respectively.

Friends and family from Rochester, Kent, will join skipper Robbie Stewart and wife Pippa to race their Booty! This Stewart 36 One-Off is designed by Robbie’s brother Andrew Stewart. Robbie’s last boat ‘Ding Dong!’ a 37' One-Off and also designed by Andrew, won the RTI twice in class in 2005 and 2006.

Lord Cork has entered his pretty International 8 Metre Athena. Originally built in Sweden by Tore Holm for Marcus Wallenberg Jnr, Athena was the 1939 winner of the 8mR World Championships. Now based in Hamble she is a regular competitor in Class championships, Classic regattas and at Cowes Week.